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While I was at Stanford University, I struggled and I thrived. It is odd to see both of those adjectives together, but here is the reason why I believe I experienced both of those realities. As a high school student, school was easy for me. I excelled in my classes, so when I was academically challenged, I did not know how to cope. I failed to request for help, and I was actually put on academic probation my second year of college. That is when I realized I needed to take ownership of my education. I sought... Read More mentors and individuals who understood my backgrounds and experiences. They set me on a path towards success. That is when I began to thrive. I took classes that captured my intellectual curiosity. I was able to switch majors my junior year without neglecting all the hard work from my first two years. I found people who shared similar identities as I, and collectively we had a voice on campus. While there are ways that I feel Stanford as an institution does not cater towards people of color/minority groups, there are people on campus with whom I was able to unite. I do not regret my decision to attend this university.

I recently attended my 35th reunion from Stanford, where a lot of my classmates showed up because we created real, nurturing friendships that have lasted a life time. Stanford has a big reputation, but it's a pretty intimate campus with lot of natural beauty. I remember my first journalism class, where my professor encouraged me and nurtured my talent. It set me on a path that I'm still on, and still passionate about. A few years back, when I returned for my 20th reunion, I ran into the head of the Communication... Read More Department, and he still remembered me. The kids at Stanford were super smart, as you might expect, but the culture of the campus was relaxed and warm.