 from Mid-State Technical College, Vikram Gill. Good evening everyone. Wow. I've heard some very beautiful and powerful stories tonight, and I feel very grateful for that opportunity. Before I start, I just want to say that I really liked what Ron said earlier about the people sitting on our tables being our rock. I, you know, the various supervisors and advisors, instructors, mentors, and friends that I've, you know, made and had over my experience at Mid-State has really, you know, it's really been what has made me successful. So thank you ladies for being here. My story begins in Superior, Wisconsin. As a first-generation American and the son of immigrants from India, I grew up in a loving home, but with a lot of pressure to succeed. I came out as gay at the age of 16 and spent several years feeling like my parents didn't accept me. I came to Stevens Point in 2010 to start anew as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, and ended up taking advantage of my newfound freedom, but not in a good way. I started using drugs daily and was put on academic suspension after three semesters. My drug use worsened over the next few years and after a second failed attempt at UWSP, I hit my rock bottom. In 2017, I began attending meetings through a 12-step recovery program and finally found a community that would become instrumental in helping me stay clean and grow as a person. My journey at Mid-State Technical College began in the summer of 2017 and I discovered what I was missing in my education. Small class sizes, affordable tuition, and instructors who continually challenged and engaged me. I chose business management as my program and spent the first year getting re-acclimated as a student. In my second year, I decided to apply for two jobs, campus representative and student ambassador. Getting involved in student life was a big part of my success at Mid-State. Not only was I able to earn money, I was also able to network with some really great people who work at Mid-State. It was because of these networking opportunities that I realized my new goal, to build and develop my skills for a career in higher education. I've had many opportunities for personal and professional growth like being a delegate for Wisconsin Student Government in Madison, speaking to the entire faculty and staff at our in-service day, and participating in listening sessions with the President of Mid-State and seeing that my voice and the voices of my peers were actually being heard. I also made some great friends and lasting memories. I will be returning to UW-Steven's Point in the fall with several things. An associate degree in business management, confidence that I will be able to succeed this time around, leadership skills for my several roles at Mid-State, and a goal to work in higher education so that I may, in some way, help to give another student the same experience that I had in my time at Mid-State. Thank you all.