In the top right-hand corner of my closet, there is an overflowing, lime-green shoe box titled “Memories” written messily in Sharpie. I don’t remember exactly when I created the box or how long I have had it, but every time I glance at the shelf in my closet, it’s there. Filled to the brim with photo booth prints, movie tickets, and small trinkets, the person I am today has been curated inside that old shoe box. Whenever I find the feeling of uncertainty creeping in, the eclectic assortment in my closet reminds me of who I am.

If you’re willing to open the box and dig a bit, you might find:

A wrinkled paper swan folded by the first friend I made in kindergarten who taught me the value of dissimilarity.

A tan rock with a silhouette of a moose etched on its front, cleverly named “Moose Rock”. An item that can be attributed to peaking my childhood obsession with rocks, animals, nature, and things of the sort.

A green frog pen my mom brought to me while my Grandad was in the hospital- it later served as my primary doodling tool.

A collection within a collection: a booklet of pressed pennies from everywhere I’ve ever been.

And, of course, scattered notes from friends, family, and people that have crossed my path.

Upon first glance, the box and its contents resemble junk or even possible signs of a hoarder-in-the-making. To me, the items hold sentiments, lessons, friends, and small instances where I grew up and became a person. I’d like to think that I know exactly where I’m headed, that somehow the box possesses the power to magically guide my future. Instead, it contains unrelated items that tangibly represent who I am and what I’ve been. As I venture into the next four years on the 40 acres, I find comfort in my box. I find comfort in the idea that I don’t have to know exactly where I’m going to know who I am.

Majors:
Environmental Science and Plan II Honors

Honors Program:
Plan II

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
Upon hearing about the forty acres scholarship program, I was immediately enamored- as anyone would be. A full-ride scholarship, to say the least, is incredibly enticing. However, vigorous internet stalking led me to a different, and more accurate conclusion about FASP. I discovered that the program was much more than a scholarship, it's a community. Despite each having walked different paths, FASP seamlessly converges the individual into a community of scholars. Unique passions become intertwined through small commonalities that transform into fast friendships. Through only a 5 day retreat and online conversations, it is evident that FASP cultivates an ideal community worth so much more than just a scholarship.