So far, my sophomore year has been both demanding and rewarding. This semester I continued exploring academic disciplines and making memories with my friends. I took classes that challenged and expanded my perspectives, participated in club hockey and lacrosse, and joined Colgate’s chapter of Theta Chi. I continued living on campus, or “up the hill,” but spent plenty of time at the chapter house with my brothers. My classes this fall included concepts such as biology, environmentally-focused chemistry, studying the nature of public memory, and African-American studies. This has allowed me to have opportunities like conducting semester-long research projects and working with wildlife in the field. I declared as an Environmental Studies major in the second semester of my freshman year, but I have recently added a minor in Writing in Rhetoric. I plan to continue this track and further develop my interest in writing and environmental preservation. Additionally, I am considering taking classes in psychology as another interest I could pursue. Joining Theta Chi has been an extremely beneficial and valuable experience. I have made countless memories, shared ideas with a diverse group of people, and participated in several philanthropic and community service events. We are determined to give back to our community with small events like passing out candy on Halloween, and also involve ourselves in larger projects, like raising over $7,000 while advocating for mental health this November. I am excited to continue making memories and giving back in the coming semesters. I am so grateful for MVYouth and the opportunity they have given me to attend Colgate University. The staff, donors, and supporters of the program have given me countless experiences that I will never forget.