My name is Brooke Willey, and I will be graduating from North Oldham High School in 2025. In the fall, I will be attending Babson College to earn a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in accounting and finance. How did I choose a college nearly 1,000 miles from home? Field hockey. After moving to Kentucky from Massachusetts, I began playing field hockey. I instantly fell in love with the game as it allowed me to be an ambitious leader and make friends. After playing for three years, I decided to pursue my passion at the collegiate level, so I joined a club team to further my skill level and prepare me for playing in college. Our team traveled to tournaments in Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio regularly. Besides playing field hockey at an advanced level, I got to travel the US and explore the outdoors in areas I had never seen. Plus, the more time I spent on the playing fields and at parks during our travels, the more I came to realize how spending time outdoors influenced my perspective and mood. It also became the place where I could strive for ambitious goals and pursue my passions. Some of my favorite outdoor activities, such as reading in a park, going on a hike, relaxing on the beach, or running a trail, help me relax and reset. One of my most memorable outdoor experiences occurred while snorkeling in the Bahamas. I had never seen water as crystal clear blue or coral reef as vibrantly colored. It was an amazing, awe-inspiring natural experience, one that introduced me to life in nature vastly different from life on land. I underwent another formidable outdoor experience when visiting the Grand Canyon. Are there words that can truly capture the essence of wonder when first glimpsing the canyon’s majestic beauty? As I hiked the canyon, I absorbed the grandeur of nature and felt a peacefulness that was unlike my other experiences outdoors. While running the field hockey turf, I feel powerful and in control; while exploring life in nature’s waters, I’m filled with curiosity; while surveying the canyon’s majesty, I feel insignificant yet peaceful. Nature’s diversity is nothing less than spectacular. After these experiences, I’m excited to explore more of what the great outdoors has to offer. Although traveling to new places gives me the opportunity to explore aspects of the outdoors, a simple walk or run in my neighborhood allows me to connect with the outdoors, too. Life outside is like a built-in oasis, a place to relax when life inside becomes stressful. After traveling to more locations for field hockey tournaments or college campuses for collegiate visits than I could count, I decided that Babson’s environment and academics fit me best. Babson’s location couldn’t be more perfect: it’s surrounded by acres of trees and spectacular spring and fall foliage, yet it’s only a 30-minute train ride from Boston. Furthermore, Babson encourages its students to participate in its study abroad program, allowing me to travel and explore even more places. Additionally, Babson is recognized as the best school for entrepreneurship in the US. As a student at Babson’s College of Business, I’ll grow my leadership skills and be challenged among other entrepreneurs in a competitive environment. While I am beyond excited for what the future holds at Babson, I realize traveling to Boston for internships, attending rigorous academic classes, and adjusting to life away from home can be stressful. However, I know where to turn when I need a space to pause, an environment that allows me to reset: the outdoors.