Meet Your OL

Payton

Pronouns: He/Him
Year in School: Sophomore
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Vancouver, WA

About Payton

Moving from Vancouver, WA, to Pullman was a big transition for me. Even though I’m still in-state, it felt like moving as far away from home as possible. Leaving my family and hometown friends behind was difficult, and before orientation I had a lot of uncertainty about what college life would actually be like. I wasn’t sure about roommates, friendships in my major, or whether WSU would feel like the right fit. I also had to start learning how to balance my time in a completely new way, which was a big adjustment coming from high school.

Going into orientation, I was both nervous and excited, and it ended up being a turning point for me. Staying overnight helped me understand what living in a dorm would really feel like, and meeting current students made the transition feel much more real and manageable. My orientation leader played a huge role in that experience by making everyone feel welcomed and included. Although I was overwhelmed at first, I left feeling much more confident about starting college and more excited for what was ahead.

When I arrived at WSU, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study and started as “Undecided.” Over time, I explored different paths, beginning with business classes, then switching to Political Science, and later adding an Economics minor. Now I’m continuing to refine my goals while getting involved in opportunities like clubs, running, internships, and potentially study abroad. My plans after graduation include working in Washington for a few years before possibly moving out of state to continue my career and education. College has been a process of figuring things out step by step, and WSU has played a major role in helping me grow and discover what I want for my future.