The only images of Guilford I had in my head before I came to visit were the ones from the website and catalogues.I had read all about Guilford’s small class size, supportive faculty involvement, the intertwining of Quaker values, and the tranquility of the beautiful campus, but I needed to see it for myself. My high school was a huge urban public school, so I wasn’t used to the unique teaching style on which Guilford builds its foundation, but I was anxious to experience it.

When I got here, the campus blew me away. Granted, I had just left a typical dreary New England day behind and walked into 75-degree sunny weather, but it took my breath away and still does. However, as much as I fell in love with the campus, that wasn’t why I realized Guilford would be home for the next four years.

I sat in on a race and gender issues class, and even though the discussion-based style of the class was new to me, I enjoyed it. People could express their opinions, ask questions, and explore their ideas in a supportive working environment. I walked away from it with questions that I had never considered before.

Within a week, I had to decide where I was going to college. My choices were down to Guilford and Temple University, a huge, public university in Philadelphia, which would be closer to home and more what I was used to. So either go with what I knew, or take the risk of trying something completely different.

What it came down to in the end for me for was when I realized that if that one class at Guilford could have that much of an impression on my worldview, I wondered what four years of classes at Guilford could do for me.

In the days after my visit to Guilford, I kept getting North Carolina quarters everywhere I went. . It seemed like Guilford was following me, calling me back, and in some weird way it gave me comfort when I called admissions and told them that I had made my decision to come to Guilford.

I’m glad I trusted my instincts to come to Guilford instead of staying closer to home and that I took the risk and tried something different. And there’s always that added bonus of knowing I won’t have to shovel snow.