The day Informatics decisions came out, I was extremely unwell with stress. I didn’t want to be anywhere near campus, so I went out of town for the day, heading back to Portland, my hometown, and then out to Hood River in the Columbia Gorge. I remember getting a Margarita pizza and sitting quietly, staring out at the Columbia River, trying to distract myself but feeling the anticipation build anyway. We made the long drive back to Portland, and just as we were pulling up to the house, the decisions were released. I opened the email, bracing myself, and then saw that I had been accepted. I still remember the overwhelming feeling of relief and disbelief, followed by this deep wave of validation.

After everything I had been through, academically and health-wise, it felt like something finally clicked into place. It was especially significant because I didn’t start my college journey on this path at all. I originally imagined myself becoming a lawyer and pursuing the social sciences, and shifting toward Informatics felt like a huge leap into the unknown. I had encountered Informatics by taking an introductory Summer course in INFO on a whim after a few quarters of feeling like I wanted something in between Law, Societies, and Justice, and Computer Science. After taking that course, I felt like I had a clear path in university, and I worked for months to take as many classes in the major as possible and have as many experiences related to Informatics as possible.

Getting in meant that the risks I took, the late nights, the self-doubt, and the courage to completely redirect my trajectory were all worth it. It marked a turning point, a moment where I felt proud not just of being accepted, but of trusting myself enough to pursue something that truly resonated with me. Since then, I have felt completely at home in my major. My studies have been something I am proud of, something that has taught me to explore the bounds of what I previously believed was possible during my time at university. So many pathways opened up as a result of getting into Informatics, and I am incredibly grateful.