When I was a senior in high school, I naively applied to only one university for one non-academic reason: rowing. Throughout the four years following that decision, I learned that applying to only Grand Valley State University was the right choice for me, both academically and athletically. During those four years, Grand Valley Rowing has given me the opportunity to go places and have experiences that I otherwise would not have had. Being on the rowing team has allowed me to travel across the country and to the UK in search of competition. But the experiences that I will treasure the most will not be found in Philadelphia, Boston, Henley, or any of the other places that we visited, but instead, right here at Grand Valley; in the RTC, at the boathouse, and on the Grand River. These are the places where I made amazing friendships that greatly helped expand my social life, and pushed myself further than I thought possible. I have had some of the best times of my life here at Grand Valley. As I take the next step after college, I do so confidently, knowing I have prepared myself with the education learned in the classroom along with life lessons from the team.