Anna Saeger: “Because of You” (Grad Sunday)

I have spent an incredible amount of time thinking about who and what to talk about and how. Did I want to tell a story about my time here? Did I want to talk about people I’ve met ? I’ve even thought about how: would I read it dramatically or somberly? I don’t know how to encompass four years in 700 words. But I’ll try.

I am a military kid. My entire life is a new beginning. So, coming to college was not an extremely daunting experience. I knew what was coming for me – at least that’s what I thought.

My mom is a pastor, so I was raised in churches. She knew it was a community that I had taken for granted and wanted to make sure I would be able to have that experience. My freshman year, I showed up to a free nachos event at Pres House just to tell my mom I went; but when I got there, there were no nachos left, only people.

I met Erica that night and told her a little about me and that my mom sent me, and she asked, “But why are you here?” I didn’t know. My mom told me to come, so it must have been good; but I didn’t really want to come.I struggled for the first few weeks into months. But over time, my relationships here began to flourish. And this is why Pres House became a home: the people. The people who are exactly like me and the ones who are completely different. We would sit down each week, eat food, drink coffee or cider, and just talk – something so natural and familiar.

Some of these relationships became much deeper. The first time I felt like I belonged on UW-Madison’s campus was when Nii Addo, Lauren, Hailey, and Matt came to watch me play an intramural soccer game. It was something so simple, but was the first step of community. Then came retreats where I spent evenings sitting around tables building puzzles and learning how to play Ticket to Ride. That’s where Olivia, Nathan, Elizabeth, Ben, and Jacob entered, and again, my sense of community grew.  Eventually, I was being invited to parties, game nights, and dinners.. My mom’s persistent push telling me to go to Pres House and to spend time here had direct positive impacts.

This community was there for me and supported me through all of the ups and downs I faced in college. People prayed for me when I had pneumonia (twice), whooping cough, and dengue fever. They celebrated my accomplishments, hugged me when I was crashing out, and helped me get out of bed when I was having the biggest mental health battle of my life. So now, standing before you today, I can finally answer Erica’s question.

Why am I here? I’m here because of all of you. I’m here because of the community that has been built and supported me throughout my college years. This next step for me is inevitable. At some point, we all have to leave and go see other things. But I leave knowing pieces of my heart stay in this building with these people and these memories. All because I came to Pres House and it slowly turned into a home. So when the world feels overwhelming and you feel alone, know that Pres House is always here for you, because it’s not just a house – it’s a home, full of people who are ready to hold and support you with whatever is happening in your life.

Anna Saeger (she/her) graduates in May 2025 with a B.S. in kinesiology and a certifcate in athletic healthcare.