Exploring Bright Futures: A Little Sister’s Journey to Virginia Tech and Beyond

Alaja standing in front of Burchard Hall at Virginia Tech

For Little Sister Alaja, the future's looking bright! A high school junior with a passion for architecture, Alaja has spent the past year diving deep into her dream of becoming an architect. With her Big Sister Erin by her side, Alaja has been exploring college campuses to find the perfect fit for her goals. Together, they recently visited Virginia Tech to tour the campus and its renowned architecture school.

Alaja and Erin enjoyed a picnic on the scenic grounds before exploring some of the libraries—one of Alaja’s favorite types of places—and taking a closer look at the architecture facility. Standing in front of the architecture school, Alaja expressed “Standing there felt like I could be there one day. After the tour I really enjoyed architecture more than I had imagined. I saw students working on their projects and wondered when I was going to be able to do that one day,” she felt inspired and ready to take the next steps toward her future.

Erin has been an invaluable mentor during Alaja’s college application process and helping her find her passion. “Throughout our six years together, Alaja has done a great job exploring opportunities related to her interests,” Erin shared. “Over the last year, it’s been really fun to be part of her college exploration process! I’m excited to see what’s next for her.”

Alaja’s journey is just beginning. Her curiosity, determination, and the unwavering support from her Big Sister, Erin, reminds us all of the power of mentorship and the incredible potential of every Little to achieve their dreams.