My love letter to Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø

Growing up in the Quad Cities, I used to drive past Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø a lot. Back then, I never thought I¡¯d get the chance to actually go to school there. I had a bunch of doubts about myself, my family¡¯s money situation, and doubted I would fit in. 

Looking back, it¡¯s pretty cool to see all the things I¡¯ve accomplished that I didn¡¯t give myself enough credit for. Something I never really thought about before is how small your world feels when you¡¯re a kid. You pretty much only know the people from your hometown and school. 

Going to Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø changed that view for me, in the best way possible. I¡¯ve met amazing people from Morocco, Vietnam, and other countries along with people from all over the United States. It¡¯s crazy to think I wouldn¡¯t have met them if it wasn¡¯t for Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and I feel very lucky to attend this college. 

Right now, I¡¯m a junior, and I¡¯m planning to graduate in the fall of 2024. There¡¯s something special about knowing I kind of wish I wasn¡¯t graduating early. I¡¯d be leaving behind some of my favorite people. Even though I know I can and will see them again, it feels a bit like the heartbreak you get in high school when you graduate and don¡¯t see everyone in the same place anymore. 

These awesome people I¡¯ve met at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø are not just classmates¡ªthey¡¯re future leaders who have really shaped my world. Even though I don¡¯t know everyone at the college, I know enough to say that I feel super lucky to be part of this community.

*This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø chapter.