My love affair with you began long before college, tagging along while my mom got coffee down the shore or enjoying a milkshake after a summer lacrosse tournament. Before getting to Williamsburg last August, I appreciated your convenience and variety. Now, you’re one of the most important institutions in my life. Yep, Wawa. Any William and Mary student will laugh about how much money they spend there or how often you can find them stopping in for the infamous mac and cheese. I’m pretty sure orientation leaders are required to tell new students that our Wawa is the highest grossing location in the country (without a gas station, of course).
Those not from the mid-Atlantic region don’t understand how wonderful Wawa is prior to coming to college. What’s so special about a convenience store, they ask? Their answer comes in the form of a chicken parm sub at 2 in the morning on the way home from a party, or a 32 oz. free cup of water on a 100 degree day, or candy and coffee as fuel for an all nighter.
Other schools may claim to have the best late night food options. Sure, cheesy bread is great, but you can’t make new friends while ordering Domino’s from your bed. There’s nothing quite like bonding with random new students over your interesting night or the looming pile of work waiting for you in Swem. While you may not ever speak to those people again, Wawa friendships are an integral part of a night out and William and Mary career.
I’m not sure how girls at other schools survive sorority rush without having the topic of Wawa to fall back on during an awkward conversation? Oh, you like Netflix? Me, too! Oh, you can’t live without Wawa sandwiches? What a coincidence, same here! Not only does Wawa inspire friendships, but it also gives you something to bond over with just about anyone on campus, not matter how incompatible you may be.
There’s something for everyone, any time for any reason. Need to stay up all night? There’s 99 cent coffee in the afternoon. Have class for 6 hours without a break? Grab a hoagie. Need a mixer? Fully stocked fridge. Can’t decide what to eat? Click buttons on the touch screen until you find exactly what you want. Wawa will always be there, no matter how hard that final was or how poorly that date party went. It’s like your shoulder to cry on, except much, much tastier.
It may sound silly to claim that a convenience store is a virtuous institution, but Wawa is really a big part of what makes William and Mary great. Sure, we have famous alumni (I guess Thomas Jefferson was important) and passionate professors and engaged students and countless clubs and activities. But if you’re trying to sell the school to a prospective student, Wawa might just be the thing that does it.
