At eighteen years old, I received my acceptance letter to UVA. My college application process was, at best, haphazard. Having done next to no research on many of the schools I applied to, I was taken aback upon reading the line in my acceptance letter, “The University of Virginia is Mr. Jefferson’s University.” My first thought was whether or not the letter was referring to the Jefferson I was thinking of or a different one entirely—and my second thought was that I probably should’ve done better research.
Even after being shipped off to Charlottesville, my knowledge of UVA was virtually nonexistent. For the first couple of months of being a student, I was blissfully ignorant of the memory-bearing bricks I walked on every day. It wasn’t until one of my suitemates entered her “probie” (probational) semester as a guide for the Virginia Guides Service (VGS) that I began to slowly construct the University’s history from the whispers of her practicing her tour material. VGS is a student organization that conducts admission and historical tours of UVA. I later attended a full historical tour with the VGS, filling in the missing pieces of my UVA historical lexicon.
As someone who knew nothing about the University's long history, I felt incredibly grateful to the Guides for being able to provide a condensed and yet well-rounded story of UVA in their tours. For me, knowing even just a few tidbits of information about the place I live and learn in made me feel far more connected to the University I had looked at with curiosity before.
Whether you're looking for a new community or just casually curious, Guides is ready for you.
Although I hope others were far more diligent in applying and committing to schools than I was, I’m sure there are plenty of other people who are in a similar situation as I once was. For the many current and future Hoos who crave to be enlightened, VGS is a resource. Whether you’re looking for a new community or just casually curious, Guides is ready for you. I asked three current VGS Guides to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
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What is the Virginia Guides Service?
Aleya: The Virginia Guides Service is a student volunteer community made up of students from around the world, representing all of UVA’s schools and programs of study, dedicated to providing accessible student-led historical tours and preserving the rich and complex history of the University of Virginia.
What does being a Guide entail?
Gelila: Recruitment Process:
- Attend a VGS information session where students will have the opportunity to sign up for a trial tour.
- Give said trial tour! (A trial tour is the equivalent of an audition for the VGS. Aspiring Guides prepare diligently to give their trial tour, often intensely studying the tour material).
- Depending on performance in the trial tour, students can advance to the interview round.
- Participate in an individual interview; if accepted to Guides, you begin your Probationary, or “Probie,” Semester!
Life after Probie Semester:
- Register to give historical tours Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays at 11 AM
- Attend General Body meetings
- Attend team-building events
Why did you decide to become a Guide? How has being a Guide impacted you?
Gelila: The history of the University is so complex and interesting—I wanted to be a part of this effort to promote transparency and share that history with others. Through this experience, I found a community of amazing individuals who share similar passions.
Aleya: I chose to become a Guide because of my passion for history and my curiosity about how it has shaped the UVA community. Being a Guide has given me the opportunity to explore these stories in depth and develop a deeper understanding of the complex systems that define life at UVA today. I’ve become part of a community of passionate, dedicated individuals who share my values and work tirelessly to advance the organization’s mission. Through this experience, I’ve also gained a greater appreciation for my place within the University and a strong desire to share what I’ve learned with the wider community.
Mallarie: In all honesty, I became a Guide because I wanted to have a sense of community and connection at UVA. I wanted to walk around the University and see familiar faces and have more people to smile and wave to, but what I got was so much more than that. I have formed deep connections with people that I know will last a lifetime, and I’ve gotten a chance to interact with such a diverse group of people that have helped me see history in ways that I never have. It’s also boosted my confidence with public speaking and engaging with history. Guides has made UVA feel like a second home.
"The growth that UVA has done since its founding in 1819 is astronomical, and this growth and change is in many ways due to the student body."
Why should other people become Guides? Why should people go on tours?
Gelila: People should go on tours because they offer a deeper understanding of the University. Learning about the history of UVA—a place that so many of us call home—helps us appreciate where we are today and how far we’ve come. Students should become Guides because it’s truly an honor to serve as a keeper and sharer of this history. Through giving tours, you not only learn about the University but also about yourself. You also build meaningful relationships with your tourists!
Aleya: People should become Guides because it offers a truly unique opportunity to learn about the history of the University. The organization provides experiences that go beyond what a typical class can offer. It is an honor to become the holders of UVA’s history and to work alongside fellow students who dedicate their time and effort to train and teach the next generation of Guides, while fostering a strong, supportive community. I also believe everyone should go on tours, as they provide a perspective of the University that deepens your appreciation for where we are today as a community and institution, while acknowledging the people and events that allowed us to be here today. At the very least, you’ll leave with new knowledge about the place you call home—and that’s pretty special in itself.
Mallarie: Guides has given me an appreciation and love for UVA that I don’t think I would have otherwise. UVA has such a dark and complicated history that I believe causes people to shy away from it when in actuality it should do the opposite. The growth that UVA has done since its founding in 1819 is astronomical, and this growth and change is in many ways due to the student body. We need to learn and grow from them. History is happening and repeating itself all around us. We just had a historic win against FSU that happened quite similarly 30 years prior. We need to engage with history more because it shapes our future, so people should become a Guide because they care about this school and they want to ignite a positive change in it. They should go on our tours because it’s important to think critically of the environment around you, and that starts by understanding that environment and how it came to be.
The Virginia Guides Service is in a bright new era where we have more autonomy over what the organization can become and how we want to interact with not only the University, but also the greater Charlottesville area.
As current and future leaders of the organization, where do you see Guides going? What do you want the organization to become? Is there anything you want to change about the organization? Are there any traditions you’d like to form?
Gelila: Guides is embracing a new era as a history-sharing organization. After taking a semester off from recruiting to focus on internal growth, we’re excited to welcome a new class of Probies and continue our tradition of offering engaging tours.
Aleya: I see a bright future for the Guides. Every day, I am in awe of the dedication and effort that members of VGS put into the organization. I am confident that the organization is in capable hands and will continue to thrive because of our mission to share and preserve history. It is not an easy task, but those who are drawn to our mission and values already possess the passion and commitment needed to become current and future members. It is this shared drive that makes me truly hopeful for the future of the Guides.
Mallarie: The Virginia Guides Service is in a bright new era where we have more autonomy over what the organization can become and how we want to interact with not only the University but also the greater Charlottesville area. I see Guides expanding our tour dates and times, interacting more with the greater Charlottesville community and schools, and planning more outward UVA-facing events that encourage the general student body to engage more deeply with history, especially the rich history of the University.
Guides come from all different backgrounds and pursue diverse areas of interest. How do you think being a Guide helps all people succeed regardless of their differing academic and career goals?
Aleya: Being a Guide helps all members succeed because it develops skills and experiences that transcend any single academic or career path. Regardless of your major or future goals, serving as a Guide strengthens communication, leadership, and public speaking skills through delivering tours and interacting with diverse audiences. It also fosters critical thinking and research skills by exploring UVA’s history in depth, and cultivates teamwork and collaboration through mentoring and supporting fellow Guides. Beyond that, the experience also encourages adaptability, empathy, and a sense of responsibility, which are valuable qualities you can carry into any aspect of life.
Gelila: Guides come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds and career interests—not just history majors! We like to say that every tour in the Virginia Guide Service is unique because each Guide brings a part of themselves to it: their interests, their interpretation of the content from Probie Semester, and the stories they find most compelling. While the core historical content is standardized, Guides have the creative freedom to emphasize topics that resonate with them. The Virginia Guide Service also offers specialty tours—such as The History of Women at UVA, The History of African Americans at UVA, Garden Tours, and The History of Medicine—giving Guides the opportunity to lead tours that align with their personal and academic passions.
Mallarie: The skills I’ve learned being a Virginia guide have been applicable to a variety of aspects in my life. It has taught me great presentation skills, eye contact, projecting, talking slowly, as well as critical thinking and how to respond in difficult situations. And finally, it has taught me how to be more concise and intentional with my words and how it’s okay to take a second to think before responding, especially in situations where you’re dealing with difficult topics that still have present-day implications. Because of this, I think Guides is great for all groups of people—NOT just history majors!
What are your favorite types of tours to do? Why should people go on your tour?
Mallarie: My favorite type of tour to do is a kids tour. Typically, when I have given them, they have been from out of town, so it’s interesting to talk to the teachers and chaperones between stops and hear why they decided to take a tour of UVA. I also think that doing a kids tour allows you to be more interactive with your tourists, which is really fun. People should take a tour with the Virginia Guides because they are all unique. We spend a semester taking classes that engage with this interesting and complicated history, and then each Guide has the opportunity to hand-pick what they feel is the most important to share and craft their own unique theme or story with their tour. Take a tour with us!! It’s every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:00 am on the rotunda steps (Lawn side).
"Everyone should follow us on Instagram @virginiaguides to stay updated on our upcoming events."
What is one thing you wish students knew about Guides?
Gelila: One thing I wish students knew about Guides was how we are working to connect more with the UVA and Charlottesville community at large. Recently, we held events at UVA’s Special Collections Library and Monticello that were open to all students, not just Guides! VGS is looking to hold more events like these in the future. Everyone should follow us on Instagram @virginiaguides to stay updated on our upcoming events.
