Driving through Eagleroad on July 10 to enter UCONN was the most nerve racking, intense car drive of all time. I'm usually an outgoing person, but entering such a huge, beautiful campus transformed me into one little shy guy. Although it was completely understandable, I shouldn't have been scared. UCONN staff welcomed me with warm smiles as I checked into my dorms. Strangers around my age welcomed me with sweet "Hellos" and big smiles as well. At that moment I felt as though I was home.

Throughout the course of the week, I got to meet many interesting people from all around the globe; Connecticut, New York, Texas, Canada, Puerto Rico, and even China! The RAs were so outgoing and made sure everyone was comfortable and just made the program so organized and safe. The professors in the Drama Program cared a lot about what our passion was and how we can contribute to the arts as a scholar. I remember my classmates and I every morning singing Hamilton songs while walking through Mirror Lake to get to class. These people made me learn new things about myself. All my life I was afraid of becoming an adult and gaining independence. However, I learned that it takes true grit and perserverance to wake up every morning to eat breakfast and then walk to class. WALK! As Lao Tzu once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step."

Thank you so much for your contributions and helping me reach my future and goal! I appreciate everyone who donated or was even interested in donating in the first place. It's amazing how just your small action can change my future for the better. That's why I say thank you. Thank you for just being you and you are a great person. Without you, there wouldn't be a future to look upon.