Pullman Scholars in Their Own Words: Orlando Abrego

Orlando enrolled in the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) this fall to study kinesiology. Since then, his first year has been full of new learning experiences. Read on to learn more about Orlando.

What drew me into college was my desire to one day do something that I am passionate about while also giving back to others in my community.

I enjoy spending time around the people that I care about most and creating memories, reading comic books, watching movies, watching professional wrestling, exercising, and playing basketball.

My first semester of college was a wild rollercoaster ride. I had my highs and I had my lows trying to get used to living life as a college student and also being away from the people I would see every day. College is very different from high school. I went to a small high school and currently go to a big university, so it felt weird walking around without knowing a single person. There is a lot more time on your hands, but that time does pass by quickly. In college, you are a lot more responsible for your own learning. You basically have to take care of yourself in every aspect of your life.

What I enjoy about being a Pullman Scholar is constantly being able to meet new people. Everyone comes from different places, go to different schools, and have different backgrounds. I find that really cool because there are always new things to learn from one another. Being a Pullman Scholar means a lot to me. It also gives me the opportunity to do things in college that I never thought I would be able to do, I get to meet new people, and I get to be a leader within my communities.