Joelle Ryu First-Year Hometown: Buena Park, California Major: Undecided

What are your extracurricular interests?
Intervarsity

Why did you choose Coe?
I knew Coe would prepare me to be an make an impact in the world, not only through its academics but  the overall dynamics of the student body.

What do you like best about Coe?
It's small community. I thought I was always a huge institution type of student but being in a close-knit environment allows me to grow amongst my peers.

What do you do for fun on the weekends?
Hang out with my friends, kicking back, watching movies and sometimes adventuring outside of  Coe, which is always fun with the right mindset.

What is your favorite class and why?
I'd have to say Sculpture I. It helped me open up as a person and gain self-confidence in any project I'd try to tackle. It was also a small class, so I bonded with almost everyone in the class and could bounce ideas off of the others. Not to mention, my professor was very understanding and thorough and I knew he wanted to teach us everything he knew of the subject.

What has been your favorite memory at Coe?
I can't choose. There's the time I got locked out of my room after I had taken a shower — but it's a good memory because while I felt embarrassed, my floormates, who you'd think would care less and at worst laugh and make fun of me, were trying to help me out in any way possible. It was sweet. Then there's the first week of school, just walking around with a new friend of mine and saying hello to everyone we met and seeing them actually greet us with a big smile. It's amazing how nice people can be at Coe and how obnoxious we probably seemed.

Who is your favorite professor?
I don't have one yet, I like all of them. They all bring something special to my learning experience. Lisa  Barnett pretty much sticks out though — that woman is just one big ball of energy and so approachable, it's not even funny — but her jokes are.

How was your transition from high school to Coe?
The transition in a way was very difficult and easy. It was hard to leave my friends and family behind, and for the first three days I sobbed out my eyes 24 hours a day. However, as soon as I met new friends and found my way through the student body, it was a breeze. In a way, Coe's home for me now. People  relate with me, bonds have formed and I get to experience a new chapter in my life with the support of  my peers. It's  something I wouldn't be able to experience back home.

What do you like most about Cedar Rapids?
IT SNOWS HERE! A LOT. Oh, and the THUNDERSTORMS. Actually, I'm not sure why I like it here.The first time I saw Cedar Rapids, it was a palette of gray. But it was, in its own way very... charming. It might  also be those fine days when you get to wake up and smell the Crunch Berries. Yeah, Crunch Berries.