By JARA REEDER, Senior Reporter
Taking a step away from the lights and noise of the city, Gisselle Holguin, a junior at Northwestern, moved to a small rural town 1,296.7 miles away.
Alva’s population, climate and culture differ significantly from those of San Diego, California.
However, Holguin adapted well to the new environment.
Holguin came from a small performing arts school of about 1,400 students and a graduating class of 200.
Getting in the school required an audition.
For her audition, she created a still life drawing from the items placed in front of her.
“Art is a way to escape reality for a little while, and going to an art school really helped me grow up and cope with stress,” Holguin said.
“Even now, I find myself drawing to relax when I am stressed.”
Afterwards, she enrolled in Minot State University in North Dakota. But after two years, she was losing her passion for sports. Taking one more chance, she came to Northwestern.
“I decided to continue my soccer career at Alva because the environment was different,” Holguin said. “The girls were kind and welcoming. After my visit, I knew Alva was the place for me.”
Holguin has been playing soccer since she was five years old.
She said she remembers the day when she scored her first goal and fell in love with the crowd’s cheers.
From then on, she decided that she would play soccer as long as possible.
“I am sad that my college career is nearly over, but I will continue to play on my own,” Holguin said.
“Though I have no idea how my life will turn out, my dream is to open and design my own gym so I can combine the two things I’m good at.”