CALS is the perfect fit for me because it blends all the aspects I love: curiosity, community, and connection. What I love most about CALS is how it turns education into action. Through my coursework and hands-on experiences in the Communication Department—like conducting research in the GRIP Lab and serving as a learning assistant for Advanced Media Writing—I've learned that communication is its own form of leadership: listening deeply, collaborating authentically, and helping others feel seen and embraced. As someone who's passionate about mentorship and community, I've seen how CALS doesn't just shape great thinkers; it builds leaders who uplift others along the way. Additionally, as a Leadership minor (which is also housed in CALS), one of my most meaningful experiences was taking Foundations in Leadership during my sophomore fall. I applied the principles I learned in that class during my time as Chapter President of my sorority and have carried those lessons into every leadership role I've taken on since. To me, that course—and so many others within CALS—perfectly embodies the college's mission of bridging knowledge with real-world influence. CALS also feels like home to me in a personal way. I grew up figure skating in rinks that were surrounded by farmland, training alongside kids whose families owned dairies and crop fields. Now, I get to study communication while immersing myself in that same culture of grounded curiosity, learning from peers who care deeply about sustainability, agriculture, the life sciences, and social good. And, in all honesty, CALS is just so unbelievably fun. I mean, what other college can you say, "Yeah, my day was great! I hung out with a mini horse in Mann Library." I'll wait.