As compiled by Barbara Ofosu-Somuah (NYMP11)

My initial reaction to the announcement of the Middlebury Posse Program expanding to include scholars from Chicago was confusion. Perhaps it was the combination of being from New York City and wanting to keep with tradition, I wondered why Middlebury had chosen to add an entirely new city instead of accepting more students from the New York City site. Over time, my hesitation and confusion lessened as the implications of this decision began to resonate with me. I came to understand that New York City Posse Scholars alone can’t do everything on this campus, can’t fill in every gap, and maybe if we realize this as a whole, we can make peace with the Windy City. Posse Chicago will bring [with them] a new set of culture and stories to Middlebury. If anything, we should appreciate the fact that there are more students like us getting the education and system of support and friendship that they deserve.
Izzy Ocampo (NYMP12)