Courtney White ’19

Longwood is a place where students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and find their passion. This week we highlight several inspiring members of the class of 2019 as part of our #HumansOfLongwood series. The stories of their goals and achievements reflect a close-knit campus community that promotes student involvement, values inclusion and nurtures leadership—in whatever form it takes.

As she reflects on her four years at Longwood, Courtney White ’19 has some sage advice for the incoming freshmen who will come behind her—embrace new things.

“Don’t come to college and immediately look for the thing that is comfortable,” White said. “Find something that’s different and see if that’s what you want to do.”

Breaking out of her comfort zone both academically and socially has been the hallmark of White’s college career.

Don’t come to college and immediately look for the thing that is comfortable. Find something that’s different and see if that’s what you want to do.

Courtney White ’19 Tweet This

“Before I came here, I played softball and had been on the swim team for 10 years,” she said. “I thought I’d keep up with at least one of those things. But I didn’t. I decided to join women’s rugby instead.”

Rugby is just one of a long list of activities, clubs and organizations that White, who describes herself as a “typically over-involved Longwood student,” has tried in the last four years. One of the things she is most thankful for is Longwood’s small campus environment and an ethos that encourages students to get involved in a lot of different activities.

White has been heavily involved in the Cormier Honors College, working at the campus recreation center with club sports teams, and working as a tutor in the writing center. She served as president of the Phi Sigma Pi honor fraternity, president of Neuroscience Club, president of the Sports Club Council, treasurer of Lambda Alpha Epsilon criminal justice fraternity, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Motor Board national honor societies.

“I got to meet a wide variety of people by being involved in such a range of things,” the Virginia Beach native said.

Academically, she pushed herself to try new things as well. That led her to a triple major in Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Neuroscience Studies. She arrived at Longwood thinking she wanted to be a psychologist. But her junior year she decided to change her career path and set a goal of going to law school. That decision was further cemented by a summer internship in the office of Prince Edward County Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark ’05.

“Now I know I want to do criminal prosecution,” said White, who will begin law school this fall at William & Mary. While there she will also do a graduate assistantship helping to manage the 43 club sports on campus. She is happy she will be able to continue her involvement in club sports and is looking forward to finding new things to try as well. After all, she said, “I like to be busy.”

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