Since we were young, my sister and I have embraced our differences, but found joy and passion in similar things. 

I am a first-year student just beginning my journey in Agricultural Communications at Illinois, while my older sister, Jamie Abbott, is wrapping up her senior year in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Despite our unique academic pursuits, our shared passion for agriculture stemmed from the same experiences, rooted in our family farm in small town Orion, Illinois. 

Our childhood was full of endless adventures. Acres of pasture, pond, creek, and field were our playground and my sister knew how to make any task into a fantasy adventure like the ones you read about in books. 

Many of our summer days were spent in our large, half-acre garden, weeding, tilling, and harvesting vegetables. While I dragged my feet to avoid the chore, Jamie knew how to lift my spirits and motivate me. As we pulled giant weeds, we would throw them in the air towards the blazing hot sun, creating a “fireworks show.” We played music games and tried to guess what the other was singing or harmonize popular songs from the radio as we picked the endless rows of green beans. 

On cattle-moving days, we would stand tall together, guiding the cattle down the road and laughing as we practiced our cow calls. 

When we were tasked with picking up sticks and cleaning out our forest, Jamie and I would pretend we were adventuring through the wilderness by smearing mud on our faces and using “hiking sticks” that we found at the base of our big pine trees.  

Through these adventures on our beautiful farm property, we developed the strong friendship and passion for agriculture we’re carrying into our educational paths in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois.

While my sister's creativity manifested as a passion for engineering and mine grew toward communications, we’re both finding ways to make a difference in the future of agriculture with our unique talents.

Attending Illinois was a leap of faith for me. I was used to the small rural community that we grew up in and was nervous to be a small fish in such a big pond. While everything in my life was changing, I was thankful for my sister’s friendship, which remained constant. 

Together, we joined Mi Pueblo, a Spanish-speaking club, and studied together at coffee shops around the Champaign-Urbana area. In the fall, we spent Saturdays cheering on the Illini football team and visited Jarling’s, our favorite ice cream shop. We continue to share our love of music, Jamie accompanying our duet vocals on piano, playing covers of our favorite songs by Adele and Noah Kahan. Every moment was extra special this year because I knew in the back of my mind that it wouldn’t last forever.

In May, Jamie will walk across the stage. And in July, she will drive more than twelve hours from home to Colorado, where she will begin her career in environmental consulting.

Throughout this past year, we have strengthened our friendship at Illinois and I am grateful to have shared my campus home with her. While it is so hard to think about saying goodbye, I know this next adventure is one she is meant to take. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes her.