This is Duke University.
“Come in please! Hi!"
DEAN SUE WASIOLEK DOESN'T HESITATE TO INVITE
DUKE STUDENTS INTO HER ON-CAMPUS APARTMENT
FOR AN EVENING DISCUSSION.
“Hi come on in."
SOME MIGHT THINK THE FACULTY IN RESIDENCE
WOULD BE READY FOR SOME PEACE AND QUIET.
AFTER ALL, SHE WORKS WITH STUDENTS ALL DAY AS THE
DEAN OF STUDENTS, EVEN SPOTTING THE MANY ONES
SHE KNOWS STROLLING PAST HER OFFICE WINDOW.
“Oh! That is Nathaniel!”
FONDLY REFFERED TO AS DEAN SUE, SHE OFTEN
SHARES HER STORY ABOUT BEING A FIRST GENERATION
COLLEGE STUDENT AT DUKE WITH TODAY’S STUDENTS.
“Seeing the chapel for the first time, seeing
all the gothic architecture and saying, ‘Holy
cow, I’m going to be going to college here!'
And it was magical. I felt like I had just
been given one of the greatest gifts in the
world.”
WHEN DEAN SUE ATTENDED DUKE IN THE 1970’S,
FEW PEOPLE RECOGNIZED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
BEING THE FIRST MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY TO GO
TO COLLEGE.
“I don’t think that the notion of being
a first generation student was even contemplated.
What was more pervasive in my conversations
with peers and with others was the fact that
I was on financial aid.”
TO HOLD DOWN COSTS, DEAN SUE GRADUATED EARLY
IN THREE YEARS BY TAKING COURSES DURING THE
SUMMER AND WORKING AS A RESIDENT ASSISTANT
IN THE DORMS.
“I don’t feel that I had any greater challenges
than any other people have had throughout
their lives. Mine were just a little earlier.”
INITIALLY DEAN SUE ENVISIONED GOING TO MEDICAL
SCHOOL BUT DIDN’T GET IN. SINCE SHE’S
ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH STUDENTS, SHE
APPLIED FOR A JOB IN DUKE’S STUDENT AFFAIRS
OFFICE AND HAS NOW BEEN A MAINSTAY THERE FOR
35 YEARS.
“It’s a nice story that I can tell to
students today-- that there’s not this linear
path in life. You’ve got to be prepared
to take a lot of turns.”
WITH A GROWING NUMBER OF FIRST-GENERATION
STUDENTS ATTENDING DUKE, DEAN SUE IS MORE
THAN WILLING TO SHARE HER WISDOM WITH THEM.
“Be grateful for the fact that they have
been presented with a challenge in many ways
that maybe other students have not been presented
with because eventually we are all presented
with challenges.”
REPORTING FOR DUKE UNIVERSITY, I'M JULIE SCHOONMAKER.
Produced by Duke University.
