Most people are unaware of Wabash College’s existence. Even those who are vaguely aware of it are surprised to find out that it is an all-male college. As one of two all-male collegiate institutions (sorry, Morehouse, but you guys don’t count), Wabash is definitely not the most popular choice of colleges. When talking about Wabash for the first time, most people ask, “Why?” with more than a little confusion.

The simplest answer is that Wabash is a good school. Its academic rigor is unlike that of any other school. Wabash’s liberal arts environment and ridiculously high expectations force every Wabash man to make the most of his education. We are probably the only college in the country that requires all of its undergrads to take a three-day comprehensive exam (affectionately known as comps) as a requirement for education.

Academics aside, I also came to Wabash for the social aspects that it had to offer. From the fraternities on campus to the various student organizations, I had never felt more welcomed by a group of strangers than when I first arrived at Wabash. We are not the rays of sunshine and fraternal love that I was promised during recruitment, but we are still very much a brotherhood. While there are bound to be rivalries across campus, especially in fraternities, we are still united under the Wabash banner at the end of the day.

The previous two reasons are still somewhat clichéd. You could pull any Wabash man from the mall and he’d tell you something very close to what I have just said. This is not to say that it’s untrue, but I came to Wabash primarily for myself. From the moment when I set foot on campus, I knew that Wabash was where I needed to be. I was aware of my potential. I could have gone to any other school in Indiana and I would have been successful in whatever I chose to do. Any school would have been good enough, but I did not want to be "good enough" any longer. I wanted to do my best work and be the best version of myself that was possible. I knew from the second when I set foot on this campus that the best version of myself could only be a Wabash man.

For the most part, I’ve gotten what I wanted from education thus far. I’ve grown significantly in the last year and a half. I have never once regretted coming to Wabash. There have been many nights when I’ve stared down a mountain of assignments and wondered “Why the hell am I doing this to myself?” However, there has not been a single instance where I have wanted to be somewhere else. I knew that my time at Wabash would present me with many challenges, many of which I never anticipated.

I went from idle participation in my high school education to the often ridiculous academic strain of Wabash College. I know that it will only get harder from here, but I’ve loved every second of it.