Meeting Shelby Davis

When he walked into the meeting room full of students from our school an applause broke out that went on much longer than most applauses do. This man not only paid for me and the 5 other American students at our school but also two of the local students along with the university scholarships of many of the graduates of UWC Mostar. I was very excited to meet him and speak with him, and have an opportunity to thank him for the amazing experience and opportunity he is giving me. For a couple days before meeting him I had been thinking of what to say, how to express my gratitude. But when I sat down to have lunch with him, the other Davis Scholars, his wife, two of the previous presidents of UWC New Mexico, and some faculty in the school cafeteria; I felt that conversation flowed so smoothly. I did not have to think about how to express myself, I was just able to. He explained that he thinks of the money he gives to students, not as a gift but as an investment, he is investing in the future. This inspired me. It gave me even more the desire to do something great with my life. Besides serious conversations about the future and opportunities, we also talked about local foods, homesickness, living abroad, and I discovered that he has a daughter with a place near to Homer Alaska. It’s a small world. Overall it was great to meet the person investing in me, and to be inspired by this great generosity, it made me see this experience though new eyes and kept me wanting to take full advantage of every opportunity given to you in life.