I had never known anything about the Bible, just what people had said. I felt like I could talk to anyone about it. Christians, Jews. It made me able to relate to people of all religions. I felt proud of what I knew—and wanted to share that knowledge.

READINGS
I always knew I wanted to be a Literature major. Even when I was in elementary school and my teachers would ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would say “I want to read!” I think opening a book for the fist time and knowing it’s going to teach me something about life or history or love or human nature is one of the most wonderful feelings. Literature is something I will always love, and that’s how I knew it was the perfect academic concentration for me. We have the Lit. Society, which organizes amazing events like “Multilingual Night” and outdoor poetry readings. I love attending them. A feeling that’s almost as good as opening a book for the first time is sharing that passion with other people who know exactly how you feel.
As for the people, you will never find a campus that offers more diversity. No matter who you are, there will be someone who relates to you, inspires you, or just someone whom you enjoy spending time with. There are so many talented, unique, eclectic, and kind people on this campus. My peers challenge me and inspire me to grow in ways that I would never discover on my own. The campus encompasses artists, actors, dancers, and liberal arts students in a really small space. This forces all of us to learn from each other.

SPRING
The campus becomes alive in the springtime! Everyone comes outside and hangs out in the quad, and there are drum circles and flea markets. You can lie in the hammocks for hours and languish in the good vibes. Not to mention that the campus itself is so beautiful in the spring! All the trees bloom and you can walk around the loop and explore the woods and it’s just a breath of fresh air after the long, dreary winter months.

SURPRISE PHONE CALL
I had wanted college to be on the East Coast, a smaller school that was artistic and unique, relatively affordable, and a place where I could grow intellectually and personally. When I discovered Purchase and flew out to visit the campus, it just felt right from the moment I came here, and I knew it would offer the exact college experience I wanted.
I also had declared myself as a Literature major in my initial application. You can imagine my shock when one of the Literature professors called me at my house and told me how impressed they were with my essay and would be really pleased if I would attend the school. I was so surprised that a college professor went out of their way to call me because so many people have told me that once you get to college everything becomes impersonal. This initial intimate connection with the school convinced me that Purchase was the type of place that would continue to reach out to me in a personal way.

PUBLISHING
I want to work in the publishing industry when I graduate. Strengthening my understanding of literature and writing is essential for my success. There are so many great internships that will help me with my career goals, not to mention that Purchase is in the perfect location to find a job once I graduate, considering Manhattan is the very center of the publishing industry.
Part of the reason I wanted to move to New York was because of that enticing allure of Manhattan. I had watched so many movies with Manhattan-set love stories and snow covered Park Avenue display windows that I just wanted to uncover the magic of this amazing city for myself. I go to the city every chance I get.

I didn’t see the point of going to college in my hometown in California where everything is safe and familiar to me. I wanted to be in a place where I could be totally uncomfortable in the best possible way, and I think my experience at Purchase has helped me with this endeavor, as weird as that sounds.