Growing up in the Midwest, it never occurred to me that I might want to go somewhere far away for college. I pretty much limited my search to my home state of Indiana and the surrounding region. Boy, was I regretting that decision when winter hit the northern Illinois college I'd chosen to attend.

I still can't believe how cold that winter was my freshman year. Wind chills routinely dropped below -50 degrees, and cars froze in their driveways.

On the very coldest day of the year, the radio buzzed with closings and cancellations all over the state. I remember lying on my bunk bed under a pile of blankets, desperately hoping the campus station would tell me I didn't have to get up. And then the announcement came: "Since students will have to leave their dorms for meals anyway, the administration has decided to go ahead and hold classes as usual." Gee, thanks.

Spring didn't arrive until about two weeks before classes finished, but when it came, it was beautiful. That spring I also got a chance to travel into near by Chicago and help run a VBS program for kids in one of the city's toughest housing projects. Plus, since I was only about four hours from home, I got to celebrate Easter with my family. Yeah, northern Illinois had its downsides, but my school's location had some perks, too.

When you read "On Location", you'll see how different locations lead to different college experiences. But you'll also see something else—these students are enjoying God's world and serving his kingdom wherever they are. "Bloom where you're planted," the saying goes.

Choosing and attending a college is a real discovery process. You learn so much about yourself and about what God has in store for your life. The articles in this issue will help you know what to expect, get through the inevitable rough patches, and truly savor your college years. Get ready for the wild ride ahead!

Elesha and your friends @ Campus Life

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