Chicago is a Blast!

As the landing gear of the plane runway of Chicago Midway Airport, I knew this was going to be just like home. For the past three weeks, I have connected with so many people personally, and challenged myself a lot academically. The three weeks have gone by in the blink of an eye. It feels only yesterday that we had our interviews for the Ivy League Connection. 

Back home, I had never had this much fun. Besides academics, I don't feel stressed out here. It is as if everything is given for free, where my life is not like this. As much as I miss my parents, I don't want to go back as I have formed the connections of a lifetime - people that are passionate about CS, finance, and more importantly hungry. People at the UChicago Summer Session are here by choice, looking to further expand and add on to their knowledge. It is this core difference in value that wants me to stay here. 

Dr. John A. List

My limited financial resources would never allow me to travel to such a prestigious university and study a topic of choice - Economics. Also, courses at my traditional high school have never really challenged me as my one Econ course here. It is surrounding myself with competitive and academically successful people that signals me to stay here. The resources at this University are vast. Never would I have imagined meeting Dr. John List, the economic advisor of Lyft, and personally speaking to him about Macroeconomics for half an hour. Furthermore, the students seek to utilize the many opportunities that they are given rather than just letting it be as is and waiting for luck to kick in.

Mis Amigos!

Some of my friends have already left. One is going back to India and the other two are heading to California. 2 of their flights already landed probably. As difficult as it is to say goodbye, it is a part of life. 

One of the other people I will definitely miss is Ted, my Teachers Assistant. While I was struggling with the class, he made his time slots available and stayed until 8, during office hours. It would have been very difficult to pass this class without Ted. I made sure I gave him a small gift before I took off for California, thanking him for everything he has done. 

I have not done much during the day but pack for tomorrow's flight and hang out with my friends. We are planning to watch Mission Impossible, tonight, as part of the last day memories.

When I apply to college, UChicago tops that list with Stanford.

Goodbye UChicago!