How ILC Changed my Life

The first time I heard about the Ivy League Connection was from my older sister who was invited to the interview session twice. As my sister went through the process, all I knew about the ILC came from the name, which I deduced as being honorable. When I entered high school, I learned about the program from posters and intercom announcements, I knew I wanted to apply. There was a mysterious glory in being a part of the Ivy League Connection, a prestigious and exclusive air. I knew who the  ILCers were from the faces on the posters and reading through blogs and when I saw them walking through the hallway I aspired to be like them.

I would've never imagined myself being a part of the program, traveling to universities over the summer, or creating the beautiful memories that I have.

I still remember this day, our first ILC outing.

I still remember when I first began writing my application. It was the day following Don's presentation and after I had begun brainstorming the previous night. I was sitting in my school's library in my secret corner,  an area where the two walls meet and instead of there being two painted gray walls, there are windows that I could look out of. I was shielded from the view of others by bookcases and sat with the morning light shining on my computer.

I knew two out of the three essay prompts from the previous year, since, I had applied but unfortunately didn't get in. While sitting in my corner, I read over last year's application and pointed out all my flaws: I wasn't being honest enough, my answers were fabricated to cater to what I thought Don wanted to hear, and I was surprised because my genuine voice didn't shine through. My truths, what should've been in my application, were fogged over by what I thought the Ivy League Connection wanted to hear. I led myself askew.

This time, I told myself, I wouldn't fall into the same trap. I would slave over my essays and truly answer the questions of why I want to be a part of the Ivy League Connection and the importance of teamwork. My genuine voice would be a beacon of light on my application.

Now that VSA has passed and I'm in my room writing this blog, I can look back knowing that I fulfilled my goal. I wrote honest essays, I was chosen from the interview pool, I attended VSA, and I blogged liked nobody's business. It's crazy to look back and remember sitting in that corner, remembering how the light looked and shone, and remembering every other step of the ILC journey.

A wonderful friendship

I was so lucky to be chosen to partake in the interview with Audrey! We're great friends and we lept with joy when we saw our names appear on the email. I remember changing out of our ordinary school clothing and into our interview attire in our school bathroom. We were horribly nervous for our interviews and kept reminding one another that things would be just fine. We longed for both of us to be admitted into the program but didn't really see it as plausible. Instead, we discussed that if either of us got in, we'd be just as happy. Then came along Don, after our interviews, who announced the Vanderbilt cohort would be made up of both of us, along with Hawi and Anna. I remember floating on a cloud of ecstasy, I was so happy not only because I was admitted into ILC, but because I'd be sharing the experience with one of my closest friends.

I was even luckier to have been placed with the rest of the girls in my cohort. We are all such dedicated, passionate, and supportive people. These friendships will last a lifetime, we've even already begun planning the Vandy cohort's summer road trip.

The Vandy Cohort

Meetings with the ILC were something that I looked forward to. They were a reminder of what the summer had to offer: the joy, the challenges, the independence. I remember greeting Don in his Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sandals at every meeting, his response was always a friendly,"Hi Ana." Then, we got to work, whether it be creating our blog, learning to upload pictures on Mediafire, or speaking to the School Board. There was always something new to be learned.

Thank You, Ivy League Connection!

Thank you, Don. You gave us something that not many can offer, you worked hard sending us emails, organizing this convoluted trip, and tolerated our mistakes. Thank you for being so supportive and never failing to believe in us. Thank you for sharing RedVines, stories, and loaner items. Thank you for, amidst the barriers and complications, getting us to Nashville and back safely. Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed - thank you.

Thank you, Tori for being a wonderfully perfect chaperone. You were so kind, empowering, and supportive. Thank you for having stimulating discussions with us, thank you for tolerating our nonsense and laughing at our jokes. Thank you for having faith in our abilities and what we stand for.

The ILC taught me to be dedicated. To set my mind on completing a group of pristine and perfect essays. The ILC taught me to be independent, to learn to how to spread my wings and have the opportunity to fly. The ILC gave me a community full of supportive, hilarious, loving, and kind women who I now see as some of my closest friends. The ILC gave me the opportunity to grow, to become a more powerful, a more intelligent, a more kind, and a more responsible individual.

The ILC is much more than a scholarship program, it's a mentorship, a community, a group that I'm proud to be a part of. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thank you, Ivy League Connection.

Our final embrace.