Sophomore year of college found me taking random Zoom classes in my childhood bedroom in freezing cold Boston. It was an overwhelmingly depressing era: the first winter of the pandemic held no promises for a vaccine or return to “normal.” I was a part-time student with no major or fully realized academic passions. I was lonely and restless and 19 and dying to grow somehow — I just needed some soil to plant myself in.
I don’t remember whatsoever how I found WRGW. I’ll just be corny and say it found me.
My life as a graduating senior is anything but lonely, restless, or lacking in community, and that is entirely because of WRGW. Even over Zoom in the dark despair of my fully virtual sophomore year, something about radio just clicked for me. Two months into my intern semester I applied to be Katy Ronkin’s assistant programming director and got the position. I started hosting my own show in the spring.
Two years passed in a happy blur. Radio events went from Zoom movie nights in my parents’ kitchen to screeching over Taylor Swift’s new album with thirty other people on the floor of the station. Prerecording my show with my friend Mei Chan in a Shenkman study room wearing two layers of masks turned into us laughing in the control room with our interns. Meeting on Zoom with Katy to learn the ropes of programming turned into me pestering her for all kinds of life advice while I became Programming Director myself. The guidance and care from the upperclassmen on e-board meant so much to me when I was struggling. Katy hung out with me while I packed up my junior year dorm and assured me everything would be okay. I texted Erin McNamara every two days with SMPA questions and she always helped, and still does. Now I have my own underclassmen chickpeas who I give advice to. The WRGW community and success of the station became so much of my heart so fast. And I got back every ounce of love I put into it.
Nearly all my close friendships have sprouted from WRGW, or have become stronger because of it. Meeting people at parties who recognized my full name because I sent the station’s weekly newsletter became a delightfully regular occurrence. I literally met a distant relative at GW because we have the same last name and when my mail was accidentally delivered to her, her roommate said, “oh wait, that’s not a typo. Hannah Krantz is a student here. She does the radio emails.”
I’ve met so many brilliant, funny people. The community I’d yearned for was suddenly in one giant spreadsheet on my laptop, which I lovingly color coded each semester. When telling stories, someone would mention their friend — “do you know them?” and I’ve answered many times — “oh, I’ve typed their name before.” WRGW is such a huge org and somehow every cool person I’ve met at GW ties back to it. On my twenty-first birthday, I didn’t know who to invite to my party, so I asked some of my favorite people from e-board to celebrate with me, despite the fact that we’d only hung out once or twice outside of radio meetings. This was the absolute best thing I could have done. The friendships I solidified that night and the new ones that they introduced me to are some of my favorite people in the world. In the last semester, especially, my life has become an abundance of beautiful friendships, live music and community events, all of which stemmed from the people I met at the station. I’m so lucky to know you all. I just adore you.
WRGW gave me two years of being programming director and a giant circle of friends. It taught me professional communications skills and where to find the fun music shows in DC. It gifted me free concert tickets and karaoke duet partners who twirl me when we sing. It left me with a network of the coolest people at GW and some mosh pit bruises. In return, I leave WRGW my everlasting love and fondness, my name in silver sharpie on the wall, and the big green couch. The freshman, sophomores and juniors at the station are so passionate and fabulous and I have such faith in you all. WRGW is in excellent hands. I can’t wait to see what you do!!!
Thank you to every single person who has poured love into the WRGW community. Thank you SMPA mom Erin for adopting me. Thank you WRGW mom Katy for making me your assistant programming director after my Zoom interview from my childhood bedroom, and for unknowingly setting off this wonderful butterfly effect. Thank you to every wonderful friend who fluttered into my life as a result. You’re all such kind, creative, intelligent people. And I love you big bunches.
Byebye!!!
Hannah Krantz
Programming Director 2021-2023
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