<p>So a strange thing has happened to my daughter. She is a soph at Grinnell and was always a hard worker in high school but often bored to sit in classes from 9-3 every day.<br>
She fell in love with Grinnell the day she stepped onto the campus and knew that this was where she belonged. </p>
<p>Last semester she declared her major (philospophy) and is taking 2 challenging philolosophy classes this semester. She stays up late at night reading about the great historical philosphers and sends emails to us home filled with untempered excitement and chilling enthusiasm about what she is studying. </p>
<p>As a parent I worried about where a liberal arts degree in philosphy would take her, but now she's talking aboutgraduate school. PHDs, maybe becoming a professor, maybe going to law school etc. I'm not worried any more. She tells us its the secret beauty of Grionnell that has inspired her.</p>
<p>I think it has to do with her preconceived notion of a school in Iowa, in a small town surrounded by farmland and in a very understated way that the College represents itself to the outside world. She sees her friends and fellow students the same way - in a very understated way they know they are really smart, in an understated way they have lots of fun and the fact that theyare brought together here for intellectual growth gives them all a subtle common bond.</p>
<p>I actually think that Grinnell is what it is because of its location: if it were somewhere else, i think that the feel and dynamics of the place might be different.</p>
<p>It seems to be similar for my son. This is what I think is meant by “fit”; having the best possible social and intellectual environment for personal and academic growth. Obviously Grinnell isn’t that best fit for everyone, or even for most, but it’s been a beautiful thing to see our son blossom and soar at Grinnell. And I agree that the location seems to be part of what makes it special. Understated, unpretentious and wonderful. Can hardly wait to get back to campus for graduation!</p>