When I walked into the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) Leaders Conference for the first time, I remember feeling captivated. Hundreds of industry professionals and students in business casual and university apparel from across the country–it felt like I had walked into the "real world" of agriculture for the first time. I sat next to a stranger, who would become a close friend by the end of the weekend, and took a deep breath, realizing I was right where I was supposed to be.

That moment was the beginning of my AFA journey. 

Experiential learning is at the core of education at the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Science. Outside of the classroom, internships are just one way our students get their hands dirty and learn from experts in their field. Over 90% of students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have participated in an experiential learning opportunity, like an internship, research project, or study abroad — and 42% of students received a post-graduation job offer as a result of that learning experience.

It is that time of year when the deadline is approaching to submit your college application, and you feel as though you are missing something. Maybe you are unsure of whether your personal essay will effectively make that impact on whoever reads it, or you don’t know if you want to be tied down for four years to your first-choice major. The good news is that I’m here — as a first-year student who just went through this!

Most students switch majors a few times before graduating, and I proudly admit that I was one of them. I applied to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, planning to major in integrative biology. After a summer foray into ecological work, I decided that natural resources and environmental sciences (NRES) was more my speed.

Nothing makes a dorm room or apartment feel more like home than a trailing philodendron or a unique succulent on the windowsill. Not only do houseplants bring a bit of the outdoors in, but caring for your plant collection can offer a mindful moment in a hectic week. But not everyone is born with a green thumb. Read on to learn how to avoid common mistakes and keep your indoor jungle thriving!

Know your space