Choosing Grinnell

I remember coming home from school one February afternoon and rushing to the mailbox to check on college admission letters. When I found a big red envelope that read “Congratulations!” my mother and I screamed with joy.

My college search process was a long and hard one. It took awhile for me to know what I really wanted. As the deadline for college applications crept up, panic set in. I hadn’t yet felt a strong attraction to a particular school. In that rush, I applied to a mix of schools, hoping I’d get into at least one where I would be happy.

Then something changed. I found Grinnell College and fell in love.

OK. Maybe “love” is too extreme a word to describe the first time I looked at the College and its offerings, but it’s close. Something clicked with Grinnell. Something made me feel it was the right place to go.

My story of choosing Grinnell was an interesting one. While discussing my college plans with a family friend, she suggested I check out her alma mater, Grinnell College. I was intrigued. After some more research, I was delighted at the prospects: a top-notch liberal arts education, small class sizes, no general education rules besides tutorial and major requirements, and a diverse student body. I was sold.

A few months later, I found myself exploring the Grinnell campus on a warm April day. As my visit progressed, I was further convinced that I belonged at Grinnell. I met students who were passionate about what they studied as well as friendly and open. I sat in on stimulating classes. I was surprised that students had so much to do on campus during the weekend. Of all my college visits, this was, by far, my favorite. I knew I had made the right choice to attend Grinnell College.

Even after being here for almost two years of rigorous academic work, my perceptions of Grinnell College have not changed. While there are day-to-day challenges, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Grinnell is a special place, and I won’t ever forget that.

Aki Shibuya ’11 is a History major from Orinda, California.