Hello readers! My name is Aashiv Bharij and I'm a senior in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois studying to become a physician. I'm from the Chicago suburbs, but I have really loved calling Champaign-Urbana home for the last few years.

Hey there! My name is Matthew Cannella and I am a junior studying Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a concentration in Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology. I grew up in the great city of Chicago with my parents and older brother.

Hello world! My name is Rishy Chacko. I’m a freshman in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. I was raised in Morton Grove, a Chicago suburb, by two wonderful parents. And I have a sister nine years younger than me who I talk to almost once every day on the phone.

Born and raised on Gregory Ave up in Wilmette, Illinois, I liked to tell people that I had my street named after me. I spent years meandering through my neighborhood on my Gary Fisher, riding every day to my high school, even through the snow and rain.

My name is Sarah, and I’ll be graduating in May from Saint Mary’s College. I am a Communication major from a suburb of Chicago, called Tinley Park. I live with my parents and sister, and I have the greatest extended family.

Hi! My name is Je Won Hong. My current institution is U.Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying Aerospace Engineering. My great grandfather was baptized in prison during the imprisonment for fighting against Japanese Occupation in Korea back in early 1900's.

Hi! My name is Catherine Kemp and I'm currently a senior studying environmental science and Spanish at the University of Illinois. I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, but Champaign-Urbana has come to feel like a second home to me.

I was born and raised in sunny Singapore. We are one degree north of the equator, and have lots of sun all year round. Like the climate in my country, I can be described by friends as cheery and vivacious. My mantra in life is “Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

My name is John Meehan and I was born in 1992 in Baltimore, MD. After bouncing around the east coast for the larger part of my childhood, my family ended up in suburban Philadelphia.

Hello! My name is Jacqueline Minnick and I am a senior here at UIUC. I am studying Kinesiology and French and I have also been studying to become a Physician Assistant for the past 3 years.

I was born in Bethesda, Maryland, but I didn't stay there for long. As an army brat, I soon became accustomed to the process of packing my belongings into boxes, putting them on a moving truck, and then heading for a new state. My father was a pathologist, and his work has inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field as well.

My name is Elyssa Musaraca, and I am from Aurora, Illinois. I went to Rosary High School, an all-girls college preparatory school. Coming to U of I was a big change - no uniforms and boys in class! I am a junior here and loving every minute of it.

Hello! My name is Heather Norris and I am a senior here at the University of Illinois. I grew up in Waterloo, Illinois, a town just south of St. Louis. I have so many great memories there and miss it quite dearly. However, I’ve loved my past three years in Champaign!

I'm Kara O'Herron and I am a senior studying Chemistry and Spanish with plans to go on to Pharmacy school this fall. I grew up in the small town of Kingston, IL and spent most of my time outdoors.

My name is Jordan Orr, and I’m a senior majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Chemistry. After undergrad, I plan to go on to medical school. I’m not exactly sure what kind of medicine I want to practice, but as of now sports medicine and pediatrics interest me.

Hi guys, my nameʼs David Pohlad and Iʼm a junior at DePaul University in Chicago. Iʼm a sociology major and one day will be trained in helping those in need. Iʼve lived in Chicago my whole life and from performing jazz music to skateboarding, this city has inspired my interests.

Hi my name is Madeline Schuh. I am from Champaign, and I am a senior in Civil Engineering, studying construction management and sustainable and resilient infrastructure. I just started a new job this semester doing energy analysis of buildings and absolutely love it.

My name is Matthew Soltys, and I am a fifth year senior majoring in Kinesiology, Molecular & Cellular Biology, and minoring in Chemistry. After I finish my undergrad I plan to attend Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Hello I am Yang (pronounced like Young). I was born and raised in the central China, and moved to Shanghai when I was in middle school. Lived in a metropolitan for many years, I am still attracted to nature and wildness, instead of packed, modern cities.

Hello, my name is Shun Toyoshi. I am studying Mechanical Engineering at Nagoya University in Japan. I am an exchange student here in the College of Engineering for one year. I have been passionate about sports since I was young.

Hey! I'm Ben Wooley, a senior in Materials Science and Engineering and minoring in Music at the University of Illinois, two pursuits I'm attempting to combine by building instruments after I graduate. I play a variety of them in various capacities here at U of I (drum line, basketball band, steel band...) and spend most of my free time (and a good deal of time that should be spent doing something else) playing or listening to music.

I was born in Zhengzhou China and because both of my parents were international chemical traders so I had opportunities to travel to many countries when I was little. I was fascinated by the different lifestyle and cultures of North America.