Freshman students Lindsay Borge Mora and Katty Becerra deMelo made Mason’s Fairfax Campus their home in fall semester 2020, continuing a nearly lifelong friendship.
“Lindsey and I met in 5th grade, where she refused to play with me during recess,” recalled Katty. “It wasn’t until 6th grade where she had the unfortunate luck of having all her classes with me – it forced us to actually get to know each other and it was then that our friendship began to fully form.”
This friendship began in Woodstock, Virginia, a small town on the Shenandoah River, about eighty miles west of Fairfax. Katty has called Woodstock home her entire life, and Lindsey moved to the area from her native Nicaragua when she was eight. Despite the team’s shaky start, the two became fast friends, a friendship that continued as they pursued educational plans. Early on, George Mason University drew the attention of both students.
“I really liked what [Mason] had to offer me and also I love this area of Virginia. Plus, the diversity that Mason provides was really appealing,” said Lindsey.
Katty agreed. During a campus visit (with Lindsey) in December 2019, she was pleased to discover the friendliness and diversity of Mason’s students. “Coming from a predominately white town, there was something so different about being in a place surrounded by people who looked like me and shared similar experiences as a POC,” she said.
Moreover, she noted, “When we both realized we wanted to go to Mason we were overjoyed by the idea of becoming roommates and continuing our friendship in this new chapter of our lives.”
Both women are pursuing degrees that foster their powers of expression: Katty in creative writing and Lindsey in English. “Books and television shows have always been there for me, giving me a space to let go and live freely,” said Katty.
“I always enjoy the process of creating new characters, new worlds, and then creating interesting stories about them. I hope that by developing my writing skills one day I can write really great things,” said Lindsey.
Both students have become true members of Mason Nation. “I am really able to feel like I’m part of a community here,” said Katty, “and being able to connect and talk to others makes me feel amazing.”
As they have grown as individuals during their first semester at Mason, they continue to appreciate their tie to each other and their home. “I am incredibly thankful for her friendship,” said Lindsey.