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Born and raised in Los Angeles, I had always dreamed of attending college on the East Coast, and my parents were more than enthusiastic to support my ambitions. Three years later, I am thriving at UMass Amherst, which I owe to the unwavering support and love of my mom and dad. They adore UMass as much as I do — and here’s why:

Me: What were your initial thoughts when I first got accepted to UMass?

Mom: I was so excited for you! I had hoped you would really consider going to UMass, because I knew it would be a great experience for you. Different weather, different people there – I just thought it would be so fun.

Dad: I completely agree – and the merit aid you received didn’t hurt either. UMass offers great merit scholarship opportunities, and going out of state for college is expensive. That helped so much. Plus, I knew Dr. J played basketball there, so I was sold.

Me: Mom, you came to tour campus with me after I was accepted. What was your first impression of UMass in person?

Mom: I was very impressed by the campus. I didn’t expect the buildings to be so updated and modern, like the Student Union. I loved the pond and all the nature around the school. Oh, and of course – the amazing food. When we ate at Worcester Dining Commons, I was amazed at the selection. I had read online that UMass had great dining hall food, and boy did it live up to the expectations! I couldn’t believe the range of international cuisines and vegan and vegetarian options there were.

Dad: I was so happy for you. I couldn’t wait for you to experience college in a whole new environment.

Mom: As much as we knew we’d miss you — you’d be across the country! — we secretly hoped you would choose UMass over staying in California for college. We wanted you to broaden your horizons, and UMass has such a great reputation, too. I thought this choice, in many ways, was the best decision you could have made.

Me: What do you love about UMass as a parent?

Mom: I love that even though UMass is a large state school, it offers countless opportunities to get involved, and so many different academic choices and unique majors. You’ve had so many great experiences because of that, whether it's hosting your own radio show on WMUA or working for the Collegian, [the school newspaper]. I also appreciate that UMass is preparing you for life after college. They offer so many on-campus internships and jobs and avenues to explore career paths. UMass just makes it so easy to get involved on campus.

Dad: Easy. I love the atmosphere on campus. The first time we visited you on campus, we went to a UMass hockey game together and the energy was incredible. I loved the college feel and the enthusiasm every student has.

Me: Do you think I’ve changed since being at UMass?

Mom: I've seen you grow and blossom in the last few years. You’re a lot more open-minded and confident than ever. You’ve made friends from different walks of life and different states and backgrounds. You’re having an amazing college experience at UMass that you wouldn’t have had anywhere else. 

Dad: Yes, you seem much more confident in yourself. You take risks. You've done so many things outside of your comfort zone, and you've done them well. UMass has brought a new side out of you.

Me: What advice would you give to out-of-state students considering UMass?

Dad: Don’t be afraid of going somewhere you’re not familiar with. If you are fortunate enough to be able to, coming to UMass from a different state is unlike any other experience. There’s amazing academics, amazing food, and amazing people. Going to college is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so why not try something new? You’ll love UMass if you give it a chance.