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David Adeleye

David Adeleye

Policy specialist | Obama White House | Class of 2014

David Adeleye's happy place isn't on any official must-see lists. But it ought to be, says the former Obama Administration staffer.

“There was a grassy hill located between Allen Residence Hall and the Illini Grove tennis courts. It was my not-so-secret spot on campus to reflect and decompress after a long day, turning in a paper or finishing a rough test.

“I would get some looks as I sat there, day or evening, but it was soothing to pop a squat, look at the sky and sort through all the thoughts any normal, overstressing undergrad would have. And if you didn’t mind the company of some crawlers, the view was even better at night. I would gaze up at the sky and get lost in all of the stars, often forgetting the stressor that brought me there in the first place.

“I miss that place a ton, and do encourage any student looking for a calming spot to give it a try while they can.

"The looks you’ll get are an added bonus.”

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