“The learning curve can be pretty steep, but it gets easier and easier… you always get more comfortable as you do it more.” — Nico W.
One of our favorite parts of summer is hearing what recent Oliverian graduates are up to. This year, two members of the Class of 2026, Nico and Matthew, have spent the season working side by side as whitewater rafting guides in West Virginia.
The two friends, who were also roommates at Oliverian, have traded campus life for days on the river, guiding guests through rapids while sharing the history and natural beauty of the area with visitors. It’s exciting work, but it’s also serious work. Every trip requires good judgment, teamwork, and the ability to stay calm when conditions change.
For Nico, the job is about much more than steering a raft. It means keeping guests safe while creating an experience they’ll remember. Along the way, he’s discovered that some of the best parts of the job come from the people he meets. Every trip is different, and every conversation offers the chance to learn something new.
This is Matthew’s first season as a guide, and he’s been working toward his West Virginia certification while learning how to read the river and navigate changing conditions. Nico has watched his friend grow more confident with every trip, explaining that rafting is one of those skills that becomes more natural the more time you spend doing it.
That idea feels familiar.
Whether it’s learning to navigate a river, stepping into college, or building confidence in the classroom, growth doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from showing up, practicing, making mistakes, and trying again.
Outside of work, the two have settled into a rhythm of their own. They share a house, make the nearly hour-long drive to the outfitter each day, hike on their days off, and are getting a taste of the independence that comes with college life. Living together again has made for an easy transition from Oliverian to what’s next.
Their friendship is also a reminder that the relationships built at Oliverian often extend well beyond graduation. Even after leaving campus, they’re still learning together, encouraging one another, and sharing new experiences.
Both have exciting adventures ahead.
Matthew will soon begin his first year of college at the University of Cincinnati. Nico is preparing for college in Quebec, but before classes begin he is spending three weeks in the French Alps in an intensive French immersion program.
Even with all that’s ahead, Oliverian remains an important part of both of their lives. Nico is already planning to stop by campus later this summer before heading north for school, and we can’t wait to welcome him back.
Watching alumni like Nico and Matthew take on new challenges—and continue growing together—is one of the greatest rewards of being part of the Oliverian community.
