Walking into school on Tuesday November 8, 2016 to find myself surrounded by a plethora of Trump propaganda (shirts, hoodies, flags, hats) was an eye-opening moment in my high school experience. I had always known my Minnesota high school was generally conservative, but the day I stepped into what I consider a visibly hateful population of students, I realized just how prominent it was.

I could rattle off scores of examples of belittling actions by these people, like the time a health teacher asked a gay kid what he looks for in a girl before the entire class or the time a paraprofessional told a student to leave the country if he doesn’t believe in Christian ideals. But rather than wasting my time reminiscing on their torturous values, I would like to share my experience with leaving such an extreme-right high school only to be transplanted to a liberal arts college.

During my first week at Columbia College Chicago, each class started with personal introductions from each student. Something very novel in comparison to my traditional high school became quickly apparent: in introducing ourselves, we must say our desired pronouns. The thought of discussing gender pronouns with my classmates back in Minnesota seems so taboo, like introducing yourself along with your favorite sex position.

Attending school in a setting where anything goes is something I’ve never experienced until this year. Everywhere you go, it’s so easy to tell that these kids are very passionate about what they’re doing. Attending a liberal arts school is a bold move, as it’s not always seen as a good move in society. But as time continues, I am reassured daily that this is a one of a kind place to be- not only because of all the opportunities with faculty/ internships but because everyone knows their purpose here. It doesn’t get much better than living a purposeful life while those around you are as well.

While I have seen positive reinforcement in my school choice every day since moving in, just this past week, one specific event really opened my eyes to what an amazing community I chose to join. On September 5, 2017, Donald Trump put an end to DACA, a program that allows people who came to the United States as children to work and attend school. It may seem obvious that this action by Trump should be discussed in schools, as there is always the possibility that students are dependent on this program.

I can guarantee that this is a subject that did not receive a degree of coverage back at my conservative high school. Although the DACA repeal probably didn’t affect most of the students, I consider it important in the way that if even just one student is effected, it must be talked about. What pushed me to think about the conversation of this event back in Minnesota was the fact that a very touching email was sent out by the Office of the Provost at Columbia College Chicago last week.

The email was of a comforting nature, going over instructions for what to do if you are affected by the repeal of DACA. President Kwang-Wu Kim emphasized, “In these divisive times, I see our college’s core commitment to valuing diversity and inclusion as a source of hope and meaning for all of us as a community”. Shortly after I received the email last week, I literally ran into a protest against the DACA appeal on my block, right outside my apartment building. Being so close to such a large, supportive community is something I have searched for my whole life. It’s hard for me to picture faculty at my Minnesota high school showing support on such a deep level. And as for a liberal protest taking place on campus, that’s something that could only happen in my dreams.

These are just a few tiny examples that represent my transition from right-wing high school to a liberal arts college. Although the events and communications that take place at Columbia College Chicago line up with most of my values, it has been an extreme dose of culture shock. It’s a culture shock that I’ve been craving for years trapped in the fearful walls of Minnetonka High School, and now that I’m finally in it, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Whether you’re like me where the constraints of your high school left you longing for the chance to spread your wings, or you’re just looking to move onto bigger and better things, don’t be afraid to go against the status quo when picking a new school. It might just end up being the best decision of your life.