Libby Brungardt graduated from Baldwin High School in the spring of 2017. She decided to continue her education at the University of Kansas. Like most college freshmen, Brungardt decided to live in a dorm.

“The dorms are, well, the dorms are not that great, but it’s convenient to live on campus,” Brungardt said. “Being close to home is great because I don’t want to have to pay to do laundry.”

Brungardt is a chemical engineering major with a focus in material sciences and a minor in psychology with a focus in environmental ethics.

“College gives you a ton more freedom to do what you want with your time,” Brungardt said. “But it still gives you a lot of work to do. Honestly, the hardest part isn’t the schoolwork, but managing your time well.”

Brungardt participated in band during her time at BHS and continues to play her clarinet in the KU marching band.

“Band has been a pretty significant time commitment. It’s been some of the best time I’ve spent though. I love it so much,” Brungardt said. “It’s all amazing and it really makes me wish Baldwin had done marching band.”

While Brungardt was able to transition easily with her extracurriculars, the change in pace in academics was harder.

“College is kind of really weird transition because for the first time in my life everything that I am doing is 100% optional,” Brungardt said. “I don’t have to go to class. There’s no one making me go to class. There’s no one making me do band, join clubs. There’s no one making me study. There’s not anyone actually making me go to university. It’s kind of surreal to realize that but everything I am doing is entirely optional.”