3/20/26 Husaina Poonawala #HuskyHome
Quick Read: Where It All Began
- Spring quarter marks the final stretch for seniors, bringing a mix of celebration and bittersweet goodbyes as graduation approaches.
- Students share their earliest milestones at UW—first nights in the dorms, first friendships, first successes and failures, and when campus started to feel like home.
- College's most meaningful moments often trace back to the beginning, even when those first experiences were imperfect or uncertain.
As spring quarter approaches, campus begins to change. The cherry blossoms bloom in the Quad, the days stretch a little longer and the energy on campus shifts. For many seniors, the final quarter has arrived, a time filled with reminiscence, celebration and bittersweet goodbyes to the place they called home.
Before the caps and gowns, before the graduation photos and before the last dead week, there was a beginning and a warm welcome. One that every Husky has gotten.
It might have been the first night in your dorm, surrounded by unpacked suitcases and new faces. It might have been the first time you stayed up talking to a stranger that soon became your friend, the first study session that somehow turned into laughter and games, or the first time you walked across red square and UW finally became a reality.
All our first moments were rarely perfect, but yet unforgettable. Therefore, this year as we near graduation, and one Husky class leaves campus, we want to return to the beginning.
In this series, “Where it all Began,” we spoke with students across campus about their first milestones at UW: their first night in the dorms, their first friend group, their first victory (and failure), and the first time UW truly felt like home.
Some of these stories begin with nervous excitement, others with homesickness or uncertainty. But each story captures a moment that eventually led to something meaningful: friendships, growth and memories that will last a lifetime. Because sometimes the most important part of college isn’t the ending. It is remembering where it all began.
Stay tuned next week as we highlight individual students on their UW journey!