Dear UIUC

Thanks for your care

Thanks for your constant encouragement

Thanks for the friendly smiles of familiar faces

Thanks for showing me that I can be better than who I really am

Thanks for instilling in me confidence

Thanks for stretching me to my limit

Thanks for the enjoyable classes (can be boring at times)

Thanks for the interesting and friendly professors (few not though)

Thanks for all the knowledge you have imparted to me

Thanks for improving my presentation skills

Thanks for showing me that great things come to those who seek it

Thanks for the opportunities granted to me

Thanks for the cool learning environment (wonderful classroom acoustics and plugs)

Thanks for helping me to grow and develop in my own way

Thanks for opening up my world

Thanks for allowing me to interact with people I will never dream of meeting before

Thanks for the super fast high speed internet

Thanks for the expensive learning materials (not really =p)

Thanks for the super duper long accountancy classes

Thanks for the challenging finance case studies

Thanks for the cheap thrill of collecting back money from Henry administration building

Thanks for the shudder of my most dreaded Math classes in Atgeld Hall

Thanks for the entertaining General Education modules in Gregory Hall

Thanks for the Architecture building where I got to showcase my creativity and have a hands-on experience in designing and making jewelery from scratch -- plain copper/silver/bronze metal piece

Thanks for the useful Rhetoric classes in English Building

Thanks for the grand Foellinger Auditorium where I first met both President Joseph White and Chancellor Richard Herman and had my undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

Thanks for the beautiful Illini Union which was one of the first buildings that greeted me upon my arrival (nice student meeting place and hotel all within one building )

Thanks for the fun memory of Snow Day 2007 when school was closed for 2 days (Chancellor's Valentine's Day gift for us)

Thanks for the beautiful school surroundings (makes me stop my pace to marvel in awe at times)

Thanks for the meeting rooms in both undergraduate and Grainger libraries

Thanks for the brightly lighted Illini Union Vending Machine rooms

Thanks for the presence of cute squirrels and rabbits (though i wish they would watch out more for traffic whilst crossing the road)

Thanks for Espresso Royale Cafe (only to be found in this campus)

Thanks for the friendly MTD bus drivers

Thanks for the ever-changing infamous Green Street (never fail to see new stores opening and old stores disappearing)

Thanks for the efficient graduate departments and not so efficient undergraduate departments

Thanks for the old school mascot of Chief Illiniwek

Thanks for allowing me to be part of the student referendum in the decision of the retirement of the school mascot

Thanks for all the amazing memories that can be found in the middle of a cornfield area

and finally,

Thanks for the chance to allow me to be a proud alumni of you

I will always hold you close to my heart and miss you when I'm gone

Here's a picture of unglamorous me and beary who just graduated. Congrats =)

with graduation cap and gown,

bear bear