During orientation, someone told me that one thing I would notice immediately was how the GSLEL faculty treats us not as students, but as colleagues. And it’s true. In choosing to attend the Monterey Institute, I joined a community of learning, one in which my opinions are valued and my goals (personal, professional and academic) are taken seriously. Being here has proven to be a demanding but also incredibly empowering experience. I truly can’t imagine myself anywhere else.