Chicago Is Your Campus

Transcript

If your post-grad aspirations include the city of Chicago, think of your time to Columbia as a four year headstart. Sabrina, a sophomore acting major is here to tell us all about it. Take it away.

– Thanks, Alex. Hi everyone. I came to Columbia for a few reasons. I’m vision impaired and missing a part of my brain, so things come a little bit harder to me. Also, traditional learning isn’t my thing. I’ve always learned best through music and performance. At a young age, I knew I wanted to act in ballroom dance competitively. Columbia gives me the ability to do both of these things in a city that I’ve loved since I was very little. When choosing a college, I knew I needed to be in a city because I can’t drive. Chicago gives me the ability to walk everywhere, take Ubers if I need to and have unlimited rides on public transportation, thanks my student U-Pass. This environment has really helped me mature and become more independent. I can get where I need to go without feeling trapped or having to rely on others. I can wake up, get coffee at Starbucks because there’s one on every corner. Go to class, have a quick bite to eat and then I’m at the dance studio by late afternoon. If you’ve ever watched “Dancing with the Stars”, you know that in order to be a great ballroom dancer, you have to be a great actor. At 17 years old I didn’t know if I wanted to be an actor, professional ballroom dancer or both. I still don’t, and that’s okay. Columbia gives me the ability to do both of these things. There are plenty of schools in other big cities, but those schools didn’t allow me the flexibility to pursue all of my passions. My dance studio is minutes away from my apartment, so I can practice and take lessons in between classes, homework, and exploring the city. I’m always discovering something new living in the heart of Downtown Chicago. Everything I need is right outside my door. My classes are next to local shops, office buildings, restaurants, museums, theaters, and concert venues, not to mention Michigan Avenue, Ram Park, Navy Pier, and Water Tower Place. I’m not trapped in a little school bubble. It really feels like I’m stepping out into the real world every time I leave my apartment. Where I grew up, everyone looks like me, but I never felt like I belonged. Columbia has given me the gift of meeting people with similar and different interests. Just walking around the city, aka my campus, not everyone looks like, and I love that. Columbia has made me much more of a well-rounded human being. Even though Columbia doesn’t have a traditional campus. I’m in the real world surrounded by families and working professionals. I know that life after college is going to be that much easier, and Columbia is helping me bridge the gap into adulthood. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to study in Chicago. Back to you, Alex.

– Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sabrina. I’m a little jealous that you could go to college in such a vibrant city, that was incredible