College is a series of transformative experiences – moments that change the way you view the world. And yourself. Current students are invited to submit an essay or photographs that illustrate their metamorphosis, for a chance to be published in the special back-to-school issue of Education Life.

Share the triumph of getting through organic chemistry. Reflect on the professor who set you on a new path. Relive the moment you fell in (or out of) love. Recall the day you realized you missed Mom’s cooking. Or show us where you go when you need to get away from it all (or to be part of it all).

Students whose work appears in the July 26, 2009, issue of Education Life, published in The New York Times, will be compensated. Additional select submissions will be shown at nytimes.com/edlife.

E-MAIL YOUR ESSAY of up to 1,000 words (attached as a Word document AND pasted within the body of your e-mail), name, phone number, college or university, year of graduation and area of study. Send to: edlife@nytimes.com

E-MAIL YOUR PHOTO in JPEG format, 300 dpi resolution, digitally unaltered and no larger than 5 MB. In the body of your e-mail, please supply a description of each picture, including your sentiments about the subject. Send to: studentpix@nytimes.com

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company.