Kulikova, Anna2024-04-022024-04-022024-03http://hdl.handle.net/11603/32764Applestein-Sweren Book Collecting Prize: Co-WinnerAs I prepare to graduate from Goucher College and begin the next chapter of my life, I look back at the last 4 years astonished by how much confidence I have developed in my identity, values, and purpose in the world. Indeed, the trials and tribulations I have undergone as a college student have been the most profound experiences of my life so far. I remember how I felt when I first stepped onto campus – flooded with anxiety and insecurity, I wasn’t sure what I hoped to accomplish and if I could even trust myself to be okay on my own. I had a vision of the woman that I wanted to become, someone who could stand tall in the face of adversity and stand up for what they believed in, but it felt too far out of my reach. To be sure, my transition into the woman I am today was a gradual process, but I am proud to say that I achieved that vision. I can trace my coming-of-age journey through the books that I read along the way. With each book I finished, I learned something new about myself that helped me get closer to the strong and independent woman I have become.14 pagesen-USCollection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. To obtain information or permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Goucher Special Collections & Archives at 410-337-6347 or email archives@goucher.edu.Text