At a department lunch at the Faculty Club the other day, my professor leaned across the round table and asked me, over the muffled conversations of students and teachers, why I had chosen Brandeis.

I answered him honestly. "Process of elimination," I said. He chortled while I told the story of my Early Decision I rejection from my first choice college, and my panic that no other school of equal caliber would accept me. I decided to apply Early Decision II to strengthen my chances, and the only schools on my list that offered the option of an EDII application were Brandeis and New York University. I chose Brandeis for its Boston location and its more traditional suburban campus.

When I got my acceptance letter from Brandeis in early 2010, I cried tears of relief, happy I wouldn't have to repeat the process once more.

It's funny to me that my Brandeis beginnings were characterized by such a pragmatic decision-making process. I like the irony of it. Maybe if I had dreamed of Brandeis my whole life, had been stunned by the beautiful campus architecture and the pristine weather and the vibrant social life, things would have turned out differently. Instead, I was disappointed by these things. The prison-like design of Scheffres Hall felt like a bad omen hovering over the start of my college life.

Maybe, if I had had lofty expectations instead of none at all, I wouldn't have been so struck by the true gems of Brandeis. To me, they are twofold: the kindness, passion and eccentricity of Brandeis students, and the absolutely brilliant professors we have the privilege to learn from every day.

I have to be honest. It took me a long time to understand this about Brandeis. There may have been a few too many Friday nights when rallying friends to leave the library and go to a party with me was like pulling teeth. But it was worth it, just to spend time with people like these. I'd never met anyone in my hometown who played women's rugby and gladly stood on stage in a performance of The Vagina Monologues, shouting passionately about reclaiming the word "cunt." I'd never met so many kids my age who would graduate with every genuine intention of making it big with their bands. I didn't know people really followed their dreams anymore. I'd never met a young man who gave up a pre-med track after a sophomore year existential crisis, only to throw himself into his dream of being a stand-up comedian.

On to the second treasure of Brandeis. I wasn't sure about my standing with some of the professors I'd had here until I reunited with one of them on the Saturday of graduation weekend. For a bit of context, I started dyeing my naturally brown hair blond about two years ago. Many times, I've waved hello to a former professor in the hallway, only to receive a blank stare and formulaic smile in return. Not their faults-I really look completely different than I did my first year, or in my column picture above. So, I was a bit stunned when I received a hug on Saturday from a Near Eastern Judaic Studies professor I hadn't seen since I took her class in the spring of my first year. She told me how much she loved the graduation procession and seeing the accomplishments of her students after four years of hard work. At the ceremonies on Sunday, I saw her beaming throughout every speech and diploma acceptance.

She truly loves her students, as do all of the teachers I've been lucky to have at Brandeis. The caliber of the professors here is truly unbelievable. One of the harshest this-isn't-happening moments I felt this week was the realization that I won't be constantly surrounded by brilliant people again for a long time. People talk about the intellectual atmosphere here at Brandeis. I literally envision professors like specters drifting around us at Rabb Steps, walking and working and projecting wisdom at every corner.

I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I've had here at Brandeis, one of which is most definitely this column. It's been a pleasure to work with the Justice editors, who've consistently published my rants and digressions for more than three years. If I were to give any piece of advice to new Brandeisians, or to even rising seniors, it would tie together all the things I've just mentioned. Take advantage of everything here, be it free food or an open office hour with an interesting professor or a sunny day at the reservoir. Seek out friends who inspire and push you like mine do. Get involved in something on campus that truly interests you-or, something off campus, thousands of miles away, for a semester or two.

And remember that there are so, so many people here who love you and wish you well, who will be beaming at you on your graduation day (it's coming a lot faster than you think, beware!). That's not something every college can boast about. But you'll just have to trust my great wisdom and experience on that, and take my word for it.

These are the things I've been thinking about through graduation weekend. The things we've done here at Brandeis, and who we are now that we've done them. If I ever write a novel some day, I'll have Brandeisians to thank as my inspiration. Thank you for making me less afraid of who I am. Thank you for letting me be brave, for letting me admit to myself what I really want out of life.

Congratulations to the class of 2013! Good luck! I love you guys.
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