As I prepare to graduate in just a few short days, I’ve found myself reflecting about my time here at Northwestern. I’ve certainly learned a great deal in my classes about critical thinking and the complexity of fascinating topics. Of course, I’ve also learned about myself through the exciting challenges that I’ve taken on. However, I’d say that my biggest takeaway is that every person here has his or her passion, and if you want to have an engaging conversation and learn something new, then all you need to do is ask.

Even looking at the blog authors gives you a small taste of what this is like. I’m interested in environmental education and policy, Taylor enjoys learning about the science side of environmental topics, and Ava is an expert on just about anything sports related. Of course, these interests do not define us; we are all multi-dimensional people. However, I can tell you from personal experience that bringing up each of those key topics with us is an invitation for a lively discussion.

I think that the great thing about Northwestern is how easy it is to discover those interests in yourself and in your peers. While we may differ in our interests, I have generally been met with enthusiasm when people learn about my own favorite topics. People here have been curious and also eager to share their own interests. I’ve written a couple of times already about how much I’ve learned from my peers, and that is a direct result of this atmosphere that I’ve been describing on campus.

Moving forward, I hope that I can continue to share my own passion with the people I interact with, and more importantly work on learning from the wealth of passions in the people who I meet. While at Northwestern, I’ve been exposed to many new ways to think about all sorts of topics, and that exposure has instilled a new curiosity in me as I graduate. I’ve had many meaningful experiences here, but that opportunity and mission to learn from others’ passions has been the most important one for me.

–Jason Smith