Before attending Carleton, I had lived in Lakeville, a southern suburb of the twin cities, my entire life. So naturally, Carleton had been on my radar much before I started applying to colleges.  To be completely honest, it had been my dream school ever since seventh grade when my older sister got the Princeton review book of the “best” colleges.  I was proud to live so close to one of the top five liberal arts colleges (I don’t know if its still in Princeton’s top five, but it is now number one in my “book”).  Plus, as an athlete for Lakeville High school (now Lakeville North), I had competed on the Carleton track and in the Carleton Arboretum and had scoured the campus for public restrooms and in the process fell in love with the campus and the town of Northfield.   And so, as it happens, high school flew by, and it was soon my turn to pick a school.  But for me at least, it seemed like Carleton was intent on “picking” me.  I was told to look for engaging professors and a carefully selected student body.  I was told to look for a place that felt like home, and somewhere where I could do the things I was most passionate about.  I knew being a student-athlete would define my place at the college so people warned me to find a team and coaches with healthy priorities and still that shared my love of competition.  Carleton met all of my requirements and more.  While I’m sure there are many schools that I would have done well at, Carleton has been everything I dreamt it to be back in 7th grade.
It seems time has flown again, and I am a senior biology major thinking about graduate school and all sorts of exciting future opportunities.  I know Carleton has prepared me well.  I have mastered time management, balanced priorities, and worked with a huge range of people with all sorts of backgrounds and life stories (a change from growing up in the suburbs).  At Carleton, I have held many work study positions including ecological management in the arboretum, athletic medicine assistant, recreation center staff, and I even had a blast working in the school’s bakery my freshman year.  While schoolwork and a healthy sleep schedule are big priorities, I find time to be involved in campus activities and spend some time with teammates and friends outside of class and practice.  Student-athletes at Carleton learn very quickly how to be healthy, productive, and happy.  Within my major, I have had an opportunity to work hands on with resources and technology on campus and in the local area.  With a strong liberal arts foundation, I have learned and practiced science and biology, and have been able to apply it directly to my academic interests.