Title: “Sage Advice: What a Passport, a Color, and a College Taught Me About Identity”
I never thought a passport would make me cry. But there I was, curled up in my tiny Brooklyn apartment, sobbing into a crumpled envelope labeled “Russell Sage College.”
If this sounds dramatic—it was. But so is life when you’re trying to figure out who you are, where you belong, and whether you need a different kind of passport just to survive the emotional customs of adulthood.
Let me backtrack.
When I first Googled “Sage Passport,” I thought it was going to be some sort of wanderlust-inspired travel program. You know, something Instagrammable with eucalyptus candles and girls named “Bree.” But instead, I stumbled into a rabbit hole that included Russell Sage College, login pages I couldn’t access, and way too many people confusing the word “sage” with a color. Which—don’t get me wrong—is a gorgeous shade of muted green. But I wasn’t looking for interior paint options. I was looking for meaning.
And somehow, I found both.
Let’s start with Russell Sage College. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t worry—neither had I. But now I kind of want to tattoo their entire educational philosophy on my arm. It’s a small liberal arts school in upstate New York, with a program called Sage Passport that’s not about leaving the country—but about entering yourself.
Let me repeat that: Entering yourself.
Because that’s what this passport is about. It’s a metaphorical document—a four-year journey that helps students not only major in something, but matter in something. It’s a set of experiences designed to build your identity, your confidence, and your readiness for the world.
I mean, if that’s not the kind of passport we all need, I don’t know what is.
And yes, I went down the full rabbit hole. I read their PDFs. I watched their videos. I even clicked the “Sage Passport Login” like I was hacking into a secret society. What I found was this beautiful idea: that education isn’t just about facts. It’s about belonging. Growth. Reinvention. Something I’ve been chasing since I first picked up a Colleen Hoover book and realized that words can be more than sentences—they can be lifelines.
Now let’s talk about the color sage—because yes, it really is part of this story.
Sage green is having a moment. It’s the kind of soft, earthy hue that makes you feel like you could be both calm and complex at the same time. It’s like the color version of a deep breath. It’s peace and mystery and healing all wrapped in one.
And honestly? That’s what the Sage Passport felt like to me. I don’t even go to Russell Sage. But I started thinking about all the places in life where we’re asked to show our credentials. A real passport to travel. A resume to get a job. A profile picture to date online. But where’s the passport that says:
“I’ve been through some sh*t and I’m still standing.”
“I know who I am, and I’m proud of it—even if I’m still figuring it out.”
“I am enough.”
The Sage Passport made me believe that maybe we’re all in the process of becoming sage. Not just wise, but grounded. Not just smart, but serene.
There’s this moment in Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us where Lily talks about cycles. How we grow up seeing things one way, and then life smacks us in the face and says, “Actually, sweetie, there’s another side to that.” That’s how I felt learning about the Sage Passport. I thought I was just chasing a keyword—passport, sage, login—but what I found was a doorway into a bigger question:
What would happen if we all had a passport to our inner selves?
And no, I’m not trying to be Oprah here. But I am saying that too often we look for external validation—likes, titles, job offers—when maybe the most important stamp of approval is one we give ourselves.
A few nights ago, I painted one wall of my bedroom sage green. It wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was a commitment. A quiet rebellion. A reminder that peace can be chosen, and identity isn’t fixed.
And on that wall, I taped up a piece of paper I printed from Russell Sage College’s website. It just says this:
“You don’t have to leave the country to find your way.
You just have to find your why.”
So here’s my why: I write to remember who I am.
I Google weird things like “Sage Passport” because sometimes the universe hides answers in unexpected hyperlinks.
I paint walls and cry over emails and read books with dog-eared pages because that’s how I make sense of this life.
And maybe you do too.
So the next time you think of a passport, don’t just think about TSA lines and customs agents. Think about you. What’s your passport? What’s your path? What’s your version of sage?
Because I promise you—somewhere between sage green and Russell Sage, you’ll find a version of yourself you forgot to believe in.
And that version? She’s more than enough.
10 Useful Links for Further Spiraling Into Self-Discovery:
- Russell Sage College Official Website
- Sage Passport Program Overview
- How to Log into Sage Passport Portal
- Sage Green Color Psychology
- How to Choose the Right College for You
- Colleen Hoover’s Goodreads Page
- The Power of Metaphor in Education
- Why Sage Green Is the Color of the Moment
- Building Emotional Intelligence Through College Experiences
- What Does It Mean to Belong in College?
If you made it this far, congratulations—you now officially have your own Sage Passport. No login required. Just remember: identity isn’t a destination. It’s a journey. And sometimes, the map is written in sage.
