When I got my acceptance letter from Wabash, I knew that I was going to a place that would feel like home. The irony of this is that I was going to school that is three blocks from where I spent my entire childhood on Water Street. In other words, I’m a townie. Many of you are probably thinking, “Why the hell did you not get away?” and I would tell you that that is a loaded question with a complicated answer. There were plenty of places where I could have gone, including Purdue, Indiana University, Butler, but I chose Wabash.
Growing up, I had many connections to the college. I graduated high school with Dr. Brown’s daughter, Dr. Warner’s daughter, Dr. Morillo and Miles-Morillo's son, and my grandmother used to work in Dean Rater’s office before she passed away. Needless to say, I had roots at Wabash. Many people would think that this is too close to home, but after visiting IU and feeling like just a number, I wasn’t going to go to a state school. Honor’s Scholar Weekend is what really did it for me. When I was able to visit all of the houses and see what each could provide for my Wabash experience, that’s when I knew that Wabash was home for me.
I accepted a bid to Phi Gamma Delta the summer before I came to Wabash. I was training to be on the cross country team and I had no idea that I would be super busy from day one of my Wabash career, but I have loved every moment of it. I have developed into a man through Wabash, developing my own kind of masculinity through the classes and interactions that I have been blessed enough to experience here at the school.
Wabash is a place where each man can develop himself as he wishes. We don’t choose our major until our sophomore year, which gives us a chance to explore our interests. With excellent academics and top-rated sports and theater facilities, Wabash was the place for me to examine and develop myself.
Coming from a small town and conservative background, I have changed into a person who sees himself as a citizen of the world and who is open to many more ideologies than when I first entered college. This college has improved me as a person and I think that any young man in Crawfordsville, or wherever else, should definitely give Wabash a look if they are thinking about school.
