WASFAA - XXX DECADES OF EXCELLENCE
by Lily Alvarez

Before I applied for the WASFAA conference, I had always heard stories about how important and momentous it was to attend. Then three weeks later I received a phone call that I would be attending on a scholarship from the Ethnic Diversity Committee.

The most profound memory I had was to see the hundreds of financial aid administrators that were attending. They were laughing and talking, enjoying the activities and comparing experiences during our workshops. One workshop in particular, Ethnic Diversity, was very enlightening. The importance of this workshop was not only to show the differences but the similarities between cultures. I benefitted from this workshop because I learned things about my own culture that I was not aware of and on the same token I realized the importance of education on this subject. Unfortunately some people do not find this issue important or think that it relates to their daily lives. One comment made during this workshop was how no Anglo males were attending. Hopefully, by mentioning this in my article, I may bring some light to this subject. Your participation in the future is highly encouraged.

The conference went by quicker than I had expected. Some of the most important things that I recall with enthusiasm were the friends I made, the new things I learned, and especially the contacts that I now have. The nightlife and entertainment put the icing on the cake as the fireworks put a good ending to 30 years of financial aid. Congratulations to everyone for a job well done!!