“I wanted to stay close to the people that I love for a little bit longer. That was very important to me. And a lot of it was also about the cost. It was much more affordable to come here, but I love it a lot. I’m very happy with my decision.”
Olivia Best
19, undecided
“I think the thing that fulfills me the most in life is love in general–my love for my family, friends, boyfriend, pets. They give me a purpose in life, to keep going and always do my best. Honestly, I think the purpose of and in life is to love, and make these connections with people that are important to you. I’ve always been a very family-oriented person. I was always around my family growing up.”
Shaylynn Cain
18, undecided
“I plan to get my gen eds to transfer to a university out of state, but I’m not sure which one yet.”
“I have siblings, so I really like to play with them. I’m a gymnast and I also play soccer, so I do that in my free time–or rollerblade. I’m a pretty random person, honestly. I also work at Starbucks, so I like making drinks. I’m in like a barista simulator, it’s fun…It takes away any stress I have or anything I’m usually thinking about. It’s kind of thoughtless, I’m just having fun.
“I don’t think (life) has a purpose. I think that everyone’s just doing different things and going through different things, so I think it’s cool to see different perspectives, you know?… It’s so, like, broad. We’re just here. We all have different opinions on things, we all see different things. I think it’s just interesting to see different perspectives on things as you just grow.”
“Moraine is pretty close to my house–not too close but not too far, so it’s a good transition from high school to college life, you know? Also, it’s affordable.”
Nina Runcio
18, undecided
“What brings me fulfillment is just engaging in things that make me happy. The little things like simple pleasures – hobbies and stuff, and spending time with people that I love – friends, family. (I) always feel like there’s hope for the world after. If I’m hanging out with my friends, I feel understood. We all get each other. With doing things on my own, hobbies, watching movies or things like that, I feel understood, I would say. I do art, drawing. I really like sculpting, pottery and stuff. It’s a nice way to express myself, it’s just fun for me.
“Having things in common, being in the same boat, it just feels nice. There’s people who get me and I get them, we’re just on the same level. If I didn’t have to worry about any outside stuff, I feel like I would take it day by day. I wouldn’t have to worry about falling behind or being in trouble with money, I would just do whatever I feel like I wanted to do that day.”
Rayyan Juma
18, digital art & design
“I live close by. I heard that Moraine’s a good school to go to after high school. And plus, you get a bunch of benefits. You have FAFSA that’s accepted here, gym, library, tutoring. I thought that would be good for a career starter.”
“I just feel like as long as I be a good person in general, provide for my family and everything, that should be fulfillment. As long as friends and family are around, that’s all that really matters to me.
“I can’t live without art, art is something that has to be with me. Digital, traditional, all that is what completes me. Without that, I’m not complete as a person. When I’m feeling sad, I just draw. When I’m feeling angry, I draw. Or not even draw–I can design. I do T-shirts. It’s just how I’m feeling, and I just put those feelings towards art, to bring a peace out, to express me.
“Treating everyone equally, treating everyone the same, treating everyone like they matter, that they shouldn’t be isolated. People like to make people feel down, make them feel like they’re less of a person, and that’s what brings bullying, suicide for other people. Showing people that they matter and that everyone’s loved, no matter who you are, no matter how you’re doing. You don’t know what everyone’s going through. You see them one day, and another day they’re going to feel another way. That’s something you got to keep in mind. I treat people like they matter.”
“Once I turned 18, I kind of figured I was going to come here. Just cheaper–good environment to say the least. (If) I wanted to switch my major, (it) would be a lot cheaper than if I wanted to go to a four-year university, where I would just waste money and time.”
Mohammed Juma
20, social work
“The fact that I can wake up and do the same thing over and over again. Although, yes, it’s repetitive, it’s the fact that I woke up that day and I’m able to do it. A lot of people judge the fact that I go to the gym. I know my friends, especially, are like ‘I have to go to the gym.’ It’s not necessarily, from what I view it as, is I ‘have’ to go to the gym, it’s moreso I ‘can’ get to go to the gym. I wake up and I’m able to go to the gym, I’m able to go study. A lot of people don’t get that opportunity, so I’m happy I get to do that myself. My first psychology and sociology class, they both said the same exact thing, and I’ve been using that (mindset) for the past two years now.
“I get to wake up and get a nice, warm shower and then go about my day, just knowing that I’m going to start my day clean, and I’m going to start my day in a very productive way. The fact is, I have running water, and I’m able to do that when a lot of people overseas, for example, they don’t have water or they have limited water. The fact I’m able to take a nice shower and that I’m able to start my day with a nice, clean slate–I’m grateful for that.”
Velocity 
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