Melanie Schiavone

I am currently studying at Mary Baldwin University and have declared a health science major with a minor in leadership. At Mary Baldwin I also participate in a program called VWIL; it stands for Virginia woman's institute for leadership. When first entering the program I was set on becoming a leader not realizing all the military aspects of the program as well. During the first year in VWIL the class is known as nULL's, we have "privileges" that we are not allowed to break such as not walking on the grass, holding our book bags on our left forearm and many more. If one of these rules are broken we get demerits or have to go to NCC, nULL Conduct Committee. One of the other requirements for VWIL is to be apart of a military branch for 2 year, I chose the Airforce and every Thursday my sister nULL's and I go to the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington to take classes and participate in their Field Training, service projects and drill practices. So far in these past few months being at school I have never grown so much as a person and have fallen in love with my program and all the opportunities it is opening up for me as well as how proud I am making my family back home.