I’ve been able to take advanced classes with no struggle, which has been great for my career aspirations and a great challenge. At NOVA, I made so many friends who are still the majority of who I spend my time with, but these connections have taught me to make others as well, and I’ve been able to connect with people in every class.

My experience at NOVA taught me to be entirely and unapologetically my whole self. As a queer student, NOVA is where I got comfortable with myself and where, for the first time ever, I was open about that part of me to all of my peers. It taught me that the connections you make with people like you or who really know you are so incredibly important and so much stronger than those with people who aren’t as comfortable or familiar with that side of your life. NOVA taught me what true friends are, to appreciate what I have, and to accept myself the way I accept others, and for that I am forever grateful.