Agnes Scott College was recently named the #1 Most Innovative Liberal Arts College in the United States. It’s a pretty big deal. Overnight, banners went up around campus declaring the achievement and social media was flooded with school pride. I’m proud of how Agnes Scott has changed in the past four years that I have attended. I’m proud of the Summit curriculum. But what does ‘Most Innovative’ mean to me?

Most Innovative means one advisor to see me through my four years of college, who spoke to me on Skype the summer before my first year, sees me when I’m happy or anxious or frustrated, is my biggest champion and has gently guided me towards understanding myself and my ambitions.

Most Innovative means taking 300-level courses in my first semester of college– and succeeding.

Most Innovative means traveling to Martinique for free, speaking French, and learning about our global society while making lifelong friends.

Most Innovative means proudly developing a website where I can express myself and practice creating digital content that will help me in my future.

Most Innovative means finding paid internships.

Most Innovative means going to Poland and reconnecting with my heritage. It means spending four days in Tel Aviv by myself less than a year later.

Most Innovative means traditions that grow and change with campus culture while still respecting our history.

Most Innovative means changing my major four times.

Most Innovative means excelling in the major I finally settled on and pursuing a future free of fear of failure.

Most Innovative means that all my classes relate to each other, even if they’re in completely different areas of study.

Most Innovative means working with faculty from incredible schools with unbelievable careers.

Most Innovative means honor societies and leadership societies and grad school applications that don’t scare me.

Most Innovative is traveling to Jamaica to do research for my senior seminar.

Most Innovative means Agnes Scott, and I’m so thankful, every day, that I chose to attend this amazing school.