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Coming from a large and STEM-focused high school, I was specifically looking at smaller liberal arts colleges with tight-knit communities.

I wanted to feel both challenged and supported by my professors and peers, to have plenty of opportunities for discussion and reflection. Rather than buckling under the pressure to compete, I wanted to feel empowered to reach out and collaborate with those around me instead. In high school, I felt like my path intersected with hundreds of people, but I never got to know them beyond names and faces. So, for college, I found myself craving meaningful relationships that would flourish beyond campus and past graduation. ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø, with its compact population, rigorous education, and focus on community, gave me promise (and delivered) on all these things.

As an introvert, I was quite worried about the social transition from high school to college. However, by spending time with my Customs Group throughout orientation and first semester, I realized that many of my peers were in the same boat: We were eager to reach out and find new communities on campus. Themed housing also helped me bond with fellow freshmen and many upperclassmen. Specifically, I resided (and continue to reside) on the Pan-Asian floor of the Intercultural Living and Learning Center (ILLC) in Rhoad's Hall, where we gather every month to enjoy Asian food and discuss cultural community. Before long, I found myself exchanging smiles and engrossed in conversation with everyone on the floor. 

Our hallways are always ringing with laughter and dialogue, chance encounters that blossom into real friendships.

My on-campus commitments have put me in contact with a variety of awesome people. As a student worker and now supervisor at New Dorm Dining Hall, I have many fond memories of jesting around with my shift-mates and full-time staff. Even when I'm "on the job," New Dorm never felt like a burden, rather an inclusive community that I could rely on. 

I've had similarly endearing experiences working in Special Collections as a student assistant and the Office of Admissions as a tour guide, where I've formed close bonds with folks I would not have met otherwise. Clubs also serve as great ways to find like-minded peers and venture outside of your comfort zone. For me, Intramural Volleyball and the Bi-College News have been key venues of socialization, especially with upperclassmen and students from across the consortium. 

My favorite memory at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø has to be modeling with my friends for the annual Asian Student Association (ASA) Culture Show. Every fall, ASA hosts a night of cultural celebrations, featuring loads of delicious foods, student performances, guest speakers, and of course, our iconic fashion show. 

I remember feeling incredibly nervous during rehearsal in my hanfu, but when I finally strutted down the red carpet, I recognized so many familiar faces in the crowd: I saw my classmates, my coworkers, and even my professors, all of them there to cheer us on and show solidarity. As we lined up on stage for flowers, my ASA peers and I were all smiles under the spotlight. I've never felt so empowered until that point, and this sense of community encouraged me to become an Executive Board member of ASA myself. As the Events and Outreach Co-coordinator, I now get to be at the frontlines of organizing cultural events on campus, including the Fall Culture Show!

It is no secret that ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø's traditions are one-of-a-kind. 

They foster a wholesome first-year experience, strengthen bonds across class years, and tie the entire student body together. My favorite must be May Day, where everyone dresses up in white, enjoys performances, and hangs out with friends. It's a day filled with greetings, compliments, and gratitude, where we rejoice in each other’s presence. 

I also find it unique and am always deeply touched by how invested ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø students are, not only in the college's future, but also in one another. Many devote themselves to organizing activities on campus and are active participants in the local community. also reinforces trust and accountability by minimizing competition and promoting empathy. I have no doubt that humanity will always triumph over rankings on this campus.

"I also find it unique and am always deeply touched by how invested ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø students are, not only in the college's future, but also in one another."

The ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø community is dynamic, supportive, and kind in every sense. I firmly believe that it is at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø where you will find incredibly thoughtful and unabashedly outspoken peers, many of whom will awe you time and time again. It is at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø where you can develop a personal relationship with faculty and staff members, where you will feel seen and heard like never before. It is at ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø where you will meet people who are truly invested in their passions and their communities, where you would never be shamed for "caring too much." 

For me, ²ÝÁñ³ÉÈËÉçÇø has become a home away from home, and it is thanks to the folks here that I've unlocked the power to pursue my ambitions.