Grinnell College is a magical place.
I remember boasting to friends (who were not lucky enough to be Grinnell students) that wherever I went in the world, if I was wearing a Grinnell sweatshirt or I saw someone else wearing one, we always stopped and said hello.
The sense of community at Grinnell is unparalleled and continues among alumni long after graduation. Giving to Grinnell and looking at the Honor Roll to see who else has given is a way to preserve that connection. Hearing from the current students during the Phonathon is a chance to momentarily relive your own Grinnell experience. Alumni are proud that Grinnell is one of the few remaining colleges committed to need-blind admissions.
If my small donation helps secure that status, I am proud to be of service. As someone who met their spouse at Grinnell College (anecdotally, we hope that our two small children will someday be Grinnellians!) and currently works at another small liberal arts college, I feel I owe some portion of both my happy personal and professional life to my Grinnell education.
I am the Medical Director of the Macalester College Health and Wellness Center and my Grinnell education has allowed me to approach this job through the lens of a progressively-educated Grinnell graduate and instantly establish rapport with faculty, staff, and students alike. I recall sitting in medical school and public health classes during small group discussions about health care policy or health disparities, and people would say, "wow, it's clear you weren't *just* a science major."
I would sometimes reply, "Everyone that went to Grinnell enjoys discussions like this, including science majors AND sociology, art, and English majors." Through its many opportunities and exposures to critical thinking, Grinnell was transformative for me. It feels good giving back to the College knowing that these same opportunities and gifts are being provided to current students.
