With a mixture of anticipation and nostalgia, I attended my 25-year reunion, an event that not only allowed me to rekindle old friendships but also appreciate the invaluable gift of a liberal arts education.

Other than just a couple of folks, I did not really know who was going to attend our reunion. But when I saw many faces, the memories just came roaring back. Some faces looked very familiar but a few faces required me to jog my memory a little bit. Regardless, it was special to go down memory lane and revisit with old friends that I have not seen in years.

I was also able to meet with old friends who I have known for almost 30 years. From Elena who was my homeroom buddy at Central High School in St. Paul to Kristen who introduced me to Celtic music by Enya, to Busola who took summer math classes with me at the University of Minnesota. Words cannot express the appreciation and gratitude I had and continue to have for their friendship even though we may have lost touch over the years. Our connection to St. Paul is unshakable regardless of how much time may pass by.

My stay included me spending one night in the Burton dormitory. Actually, I lucked out as I originally was planning on staying at a hotel but fortunately I was able to secure my own room. Sleeping in this dorm where there was no air conditioning and I did not have my own personal bathroom made the experience ever so real of what it was like back in the late 90s on campus. This was just part of the experience that allowed me to appreciate how far I (and my fellow classmates) have come.

Throughout the conversations I had with old friends, one common denominator was an overwhelming appreciation we had for the liberal arts education we experienced at Carleton. Without this foundation, I know personally that my life experience would have turned out differently. Carleton opened up many doors and an undying curiosity to experience as much as humanly possible and also to maintain a growth mindset. I think all of my fellow classmates feel the same way which is why many of us contributed to the college to help keep Carleton’s education going strong. My hope is that Carleton will continue to ensure that students from under-served communities will not be left behind and will be provided the financial and emotional support like I was able to receive.

Thank you Carleton tor helping to lay the foundation for these past 25 years. I will be back in 5 years to re-cherish this special place and the memories I had that will last a lifetime.