Introducing the limited edition Ryan College Student Action Figure!*

Comes with all the college essentials:
*Purdue hoodie, jeans, and well-worn gym shoes
*MATLAB manual
*Jansport bookbag
*Randolph aviator sunglasses
*Purdue ID

Authentic voice replicator:
"That definitely rocks out loud"
"I miss Cincinnati chili"
"Boiler Up!"
"I do what I can"
"I can't eat right now, I have homework"
"I don't have a cellphone!"
and more!

Get yours today!

*Figure will not function Wednesday nights

...

I was thinking today about going to Purdue. My school is just over 200 miles from where I was born, raised, and went to school. I spent basically my whole life in Cincinnati, and then decided that Purdue was the best school for me. I up and moved my whole life to a new place with new people, new weather, new food, new living conditions...lots of changes. However, when I look around me- I basically went to school next door. I have friends from Jordan and Kuwait who decided to go to Purdue. Everybody here at least speaks my language. I look at the international students and wonder what motives they have for going someplace out of the country and what sort of courage that must take.

I always talk about how Purdue is and always has been my dream school...but I never considered, never even looked at any international schools. Would I have gone to a school in France? Germany? Even "out of state" means little here. Most of my friends here that aren't in-state are from far away like Texas or Colorado and only get to go home over the really long breaks. I pay out of state tuition like them, but what's a four hour drive compared to a plane ticket and a 13 hour flight halfway around the world? Jason only gets to see his family over Christmas break. Who am I to complain about being homesick?

So today, I salute all international and out of state students, especially those I am honored to call my friends. Your determination is an example for us all.