Jason Lifton, an alumnus, is the chief of staff to the associate provost for military and veterans affairs.
I’ve spent seven whole years at GW, and I’m only 25 years old.
As first an undergraduate student and leader of the Student Association, then a grad student, and then a staff member in both the Student Affairs and Military and Veteran Affairs offices, it’s been an incredible seven years. After earning an MBA with a focus in real estate from GW, I’m heading to a real estate development firm called Urban Investment Partners here in D.C. – truly my dream job. With my last day on Thursday, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my time here.
When I first arrived as a freshman in 2007, South Hall was a tennis court, Potomac House was brand new, Whole Foods was a big empty lot, George W. Bush was president and Thurston Hall … well, Thurston was the same.
But while the face of the campus has seen countless changes over the past seven years, the incredible type of people who live and work here has remained constant. I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most phenomenal people you’ll ever come across. They say that it’s the people who make organizations great, and GW is no exception.
So much of my love for GW stems from the students we attract. As first a student and now as a staff member, I’ve been given the opportunity to work with some of the most remarkable students on some incredible projects.
Most memorably, I was given the opportunity to accompany numerous Alternative Breaks trips to various cities across the country, and I watched as GW students gave up their vacations to serve people whom they’d never met before, and would likely never see again. Reflecting on trips like these remind me of why I’m proud of my alma mater.
In my most recent job within Military and Veteran Affairs, I have had the opportunity to meet the non-traditional students who come to GW as global leaders before they even step foot on campus. If you haven’t had a chance to sit down with one of our GW student veterans, you have not yet begun to understand the full breadth of our student body. A 29-year-old freshman who has done multiple combat tours through the Middle East and then chooses to come to GW to enroll in college – this is the type of student that makes our campus so diverse and so amazing.
From students, to faculty, to staff, I can truly say that there have been so many colleagues who have had an impact on me and who have made my experience here at GW meaningful, and for that I am grateful.
I will close by saying that, as Colonials, we are given an opportunity to engage with the world from our residence halls, our classrooms and our sidewalks. Take advantage of it. Go out, explore the city and make the most of your time! “Networking” is a cheesy term, but go meet interesting people who make you smarter and who make you better, and that will help you find the true value to your GW education. My GW experience has prepared me to embark on my next step in life, and yours will, too.
