Coming out of high school in Colorado, I knew two things (ok, I thought I knew a lot more, but hindsight had dispelled that myth).  First, I very much wanted to try living in a new part of the country, spend a few years walking the streets, hearing the stories, and living amongst people from a different part of the country.  Second, I knew I wanted a small liberal arts college.  The prospect of studying things as varied as math, psychology, languages, economics, and other pursuits — all in a small, intimate setting where I could be a name, not a number — fit with who I was at that time, as well as what kind of person I wanted to be.

I had the good fortune (or misfortune, depending on your perspective) to do well on the PSATs, at least well enough to win a free dictionary and jam my family's mailbox with solicitations and brochures from hundreds of colleges.  I had a pile (the short list), a box (um, yeah, maybe), and the trash can (huge state school?  no thanks...).  The pile was dominated by liberal arts colleges, including Ohio Wesleyan Univeristy, Carelton, Vassar, Colorado College, and Pomona.  I made trips to almost all of these schools, and found the choice to be a simple one.

Ohio Wesleyan stood out for its quality of life, exceptionally strong academics, down-to-earth peer group, and flexible curriculum and campus life.  On the quality of life front, I found the simplicity, safety and security of going to school in a small, Iowan town to be nothing short of heaven.  The pace of life is slow, yes, but what better years to slow down and drink deeply in each moment than those of your college years?  Low cost of living and spring seasons (warning: they'd have to be, to make up for a sweltering August and difficult winter), and central proximity to all of the major midwestern cities also contributed to a rich experience.

OWU's academic reputation is well-known, so I will simply affirm that it is well deserved and hard earned — by its faculty, staff, and students.  Yet despite this intellectual air, I was glad to find the group of students relaxed, easy-going, and not at all pretentious.  Everyone had their area of excellence, yet everyone seemed to focus more on what they still wanted to learn.  I am constantly reminded of how truly special a group of people my classmates were.  Deviations from the mean?  Absolutely, but refreshingly few...

Ohio Wesleyan University's greatest asset, in my mind, is the inherent flexibility and freedom in their curriculum, and in living out one's four years at the school.  Though I had expectations and assumptions about what course of study I would take, I was allowed the chance to explore and play with different topics, possible majors, and trajectories before finally selecting one that fit my interests and objectives.  Outside of the classroom, also, I was able to play various intercollegiate and intermural sports, act and direct theater productions, and apply myself in other avenues potentially not available at a larger university.

Could things have worked out just as well somewhere else?  Perhaps.  The simple truth is I've never second-guessed my choice, and find the educational and personal foundation granted me by OWU has become the cornerstone of a blessed life, excellent career, and a host of enjoyable friendships.

THE A-LIST: Having the chance to start my own clubs and initiatives, if one was lacking; Midwestern autumns, with orange leaves scattered across green grass; Stars as far and deep as the eye can see; Real chocolate malts from a genuine soda fountain shoppe; Average class size less than 30; Standing there at graduation and realizing I know almost everyone.

BE WARNED: Nothing blows colder than an Ohion wind; Delaware is a small town, with few distractions; many late nights on the 3th floor of the Beeghly library, and I still got barely escaped Bio 110; Standing there at graduation, and realizing almost everyone knows about at least three or four really embarassing things about me...