My Columbia, Missouri. Condensed.

Columbia as the small quirky college town.

Columbia as journalism's holy ground.

Columbia as a united Latino community.

Lord knows Columbia, Missouri has not been my favorite place for the past five years. The city and I have had a tumultuous relationship. Freshmen year I could think of nothing else but transferring to another university. Later, I began to appreciate the city's small town feel, but that didn't last long. However, Columbia will always hold a special place in my heart and mind because of the strong, self-assured friends I made there that have profoundly shaped my life. Under ordinary circumstances, these individuals would be fabulous regardless. But the right combination of Columbia's dry cultural climate and sense of community transformed them into impassioned advocates. It is not the typical college student "Let's stand on the corner of Broadway and wave banners for world peace" advocacy. It's something much deeper than that. It's a lifelong love for Latinos and people of color that will guide their lives and mine. The city inadvertently made me a better person.

Goodbye Columbia, Missouri. I start a new adventure in Austin, Texas tomorrow.