My family is an Illini family through and through. 5/5 members are alumni, currently enrolled, or are headed off to Champaign in a couple of months (that’s me!). Not only is my immediate family orange and blue, but a large majority of my extended family are also- including all of my parents’ siblings and their spouses (my aunts and uncles), with the exception of one. On top of that, I have grown up with a lot of my parents’ friends from college, and their kids were my very first friends. If
This picture was taken when my sister was a senior at NNHS and had just committed to UIUC!
you couldn’t guess, they all go to UIUC as well, with the exception of one who goes to Purdue. “Illini fate” is the term we use for it, as it has always seemed like the natural path my life would take. So naturally, I pushed against it for a while.
Nobody ever expressly told me that I would be headed to UIUC, and my parents never dressed me in “future Illini” onesies when I was a baby. For a family that has such strong connections to the orange and blue campus, we really have a lack of pride. It’s not like the movies, where the kid is trapped because their parent is forcing their alma mater down their throats as the singular option in life. It felt more like a nicely paved path, headed into the peaceful sunset (with Champaign as the sunset, of course). But for a while, I was convinced that I was different. As my brother, sister, and friends headed into the sunset, I felt like I should turn around. There is this spreadsheet that my sister had made for me when I was a freshman, of the statistics and requirements of the schools I was going to apply to. On that list were schools like LSU, University of Florida, JMU, University of Virginia, the Ohio State University, and other far reaches from what became my actual list. The moral of the story is: I really did not think I was going to UIUC. So, when the time for applications rolled around this past fall, I put my hopes into other schools, like Indiana University and Pepperdine. Pepperdine is really the one that got away. Ugh. It still makes my heart hurt a little
bit, and for a minute there I really thought I was going to become a Wave. In case you’ve never heard of or visited the school, it is BEAUTIFUl. A far cry from the Midwestern cornfields, it is located in Malibu, in the Santa Monica Mountains that overlook the Pacific Ocean. It is the most beautiful campus you can imagine. All the dorms circle around the main valley, where the heart of the campus lies. I thought I was over it, but writing about it is bringing up repressed emotions.
In the back of my head, I guess a little voice always knew I was going to end up in Champaign. As a person, I am not really the most spontaneous or risk-taking, and it really just made sense that I would follow in the footsteps of my family. The school is great (especially for my major), I live in Illinois (obviously), and I would already know people on campus. Still, I was convinced I was different. But, it wasn’t until I was sitting in Gia Mia, decision update notification in my hand that I realized I could get rejected, and that I would be so lucky to get to become an Illini.
At the end of the day, going to UIUC was an opportunity I could not pass up, especially because the education and program I am to enter is a really good one. I am so grateful to be headed to Champaign this fall, and I cannot wait! Though I always saw having my siblings there and so many of my family-friends on campus as a bad thing, I
have realized that it will only add to the experience and a sense of relief in knowing I alrea
dy have a little piece of home. Right off the bat, I will always have a ride home, and many apartments that I can go to if I ever need non-dorm food. In particular, my sister could not be more thrilled that I will be joining her next year, and she already has a list of places she wants me to go with her and people she wants me to meet. I may not have escaped my Illini fate, but maybe it’s called ‘fate’ for a good reason!
Joanna,
Reading your post reminded me a lot of my cousin Caroline. She too is attending UIUC as we speak and is following in her sister’s footsteps. It is for a similar reason as you (I assume) of how good of a business school it is and the good price it is offered at. Also, similar to yourself, Pepperdine in California was one of her top three options for school. I am pretty sure it got down into her top 2, UIUC or Pepperdine. For a while, I thought she was for sure going to go with Pepperdine. At her graduation party, she revealed which school she was going to because she had kept it a secret (so she could do this big reveal). I had visited this school last year in October to go see her and my other cousin (her sister) and it was a blast. The campus was beautiful and everyone was very friendly. I think that if I was interested in business or engineering, I would have considered this school a lot more. Although this was just not the school for me. But, I can definitely see your excitement for this school through this blog post. I know how relieved you must feel to know where you are going. I felt the same thing when I chose Ohio University last month. Choosing and looking into dorm halls and finding my roommate has made me ever more excited about my future college life. Also, thinking about my major and how my school has a good program gets me even more excited. I am sure that you can say similar things about yours.
Hey Joanna, I love this blog post. Wow, a big UIUC family I see. That will be so nice to have your sister there next year with you, it won’t feel like you are fully leaving your family for college. Haha I love the “Illini fate” phrase you say. However, it is very accurate for your family as majority of them all went to UIUC. Even though you grew up in a huge Illini family, they never “forced” it onto you which is good…you discovered your Illini fate yourself haha. Dang I see ohio state was on your original list…you should’ve applied!! Go buckeyes or whatever:)Pepperdine!!! Pepperdine is so beautiful I considered applying there too. It really is the dream between the beach, the weather, and the rigor of academics. I can so see you becoming a California girl haha. I know it sucks staying in Illinois, but uiuc is a really great school and I know you will achieve big girl things. Plus everyone I know that goes to Illinois loves it. It will be so nice to have a ride home or eat non dining hall food because of your sister. I can’t wait to see all of the big things you accomplish, so proud of you:)
Hi Joanna! I have never wanted to comment on a blog post more than this one. Ever since I have known you I knew you were going to go to UIUC. Not only does your family go there but you are someone who is practical and looks at every angle of a decision before making one. For a little while I really thought Indiana University could have had you but I should have known history can outweigh anything. Truly I know UIUC will be everything you want and need. Not only are you studying at Gies, but you have friends and family there to support you as well (including me). I cannot wait for our Sunday afternoon meet-ups on Green Street! I know this blog is about you, but I just want you to know that I feel 100% better about going away to school knowing that you will be there. Through all the people I meet and friends, I will always know you are someone I can trust with everything. I remember that day at Gia Mia when you opened your acceptance letter and I was too afraid to even touch mine. That day I also joined the Illini-Fate and maybe someday my kids will too! I could even see our future kids rooming together in a couple of decades, but who knows where life will take us? Overall great work!
Hi Joanna,
I really resonated with your blog post! Especially because I am attending UIUC in the fall as well! Up until a few months ago, I never quite imagined that I would end up committing to the University of Illinois. It is certainly an amazing school with wonderful opportunities, however, I never really gave the college that I would attend in the future much thought. I had a similar experience to you when visiting the campus as well. The entirety of UIUC feels very warm and welcoming, and I could immediately see myself feeling at home there. I found it especially interesting how you mentioned that your family is an “Illini family.” It’s nice that you have so many people to guide you and show you around campus! For me, I am the first person in my family to attend UIUC. My brother attended Purdue for his undergraduate degree, so I completely understand not wanting to attend the same school that your siblings did. This was one of the reasons that I completely ruled out Purdue, even though it is an amazing school. Overall, I am excited that so many of our peers are attending UIUC in the fall. It’ll be great to see a familiar face on campus!
Evelyn,
Boy was I excited to read this blog. La Croix is a craze that I never understood– to me, sparkling water tastes like TV static. It actually used to physically hurt me when I drank it– it burns. However, last year I inexplicably decided to drink it to strengthen my character. Since then I’ve improved and drink it of my own volition (usually because I appreciate how cold & convenient it is)! The one time I went to your house I tried a La Croix I had never even seen before (was it the blackrazzberry one?? I know it was purple) and I enjoyed it! Reading your blog, I am realizing that there are so many more flavors than I knew of. My family only buys green (lime?), pink (grapefruit?), and yellow (lemon??). Honestly there is no rhyme or reason behind my choice of La Croix– I’m not even sure I recognize the difference between the flavors. Your comment on the authenticity of the flavor of the S-tier drinks makes me want to pay closer attention. Also I’ve never seen the Cúrate collection, but the different can shape makes me want to try (I am a simple woman). Will stay away from Múre Pepino per your recommendation, though!