I know how you feel. I do because this was me just a year ago. A year ago today, I was debating between what schools I had the option to go to, being upset over the schools who denied me, and also excited on where I would be for the next chapter of my life. How scary is it to think that as just 17-18 year olds, we are asked to decide where we want to spend the next 4 years of our life and oh yeah, decide what you're going to do for the rest of your life. It was one thing to get your answer ready to tell the class what you wanted to be in Kindergarten. But having to write that in an essay for your dream school explaining why you are worthy of making it in to that school? Definitely not the same.

The end of senior year can be a very emotional time. It mostly just feels like a bunch of goodbyes and "see you laters", but there are many doors opening for you that you don't even see yet. It is such a stressful time, where literally everyone goes through senioritis and you all stereotypically count down the days until you walk out of there and start on your next journey in your life. It feels like you are having to make some of the biggest decisions of your life, all on your own.

However, I am here to tell you that it's okay.

It's okay to not know what the heck you want to do.

It's also okay to know exactly what you want to do.

It's okay to want to be and do different than what others are doing and it is also okay to want to do the same thing someone else is.

It's okay to want to go far from home and it's also okay to room with your best friend from elementary school at a school 10 minutes away from your home.

I'm here to tell you that going to college will be some of the best years of your life, but know that I understand that making this decision feels like something that will change your life dramatically. In a way, it will, but not in the scary, mysterious way everyone says it will.

I am so happy that I decided to go to Auburn University to continue my education and I feel like it is the perfect fit for me. However, I would be lying if I said there weren't times that I wished I would've gotten in to that other school or the school I thought I wanted to go to. This time of the year is not only the time when high school seniors get to celebrate what schools have accepted them, but it can also be some of the most heartbreaking times when they hear from their dream schools and realize that dream won't be coming true, at least in that next fall.

Even though Auburn was one of my top choices in senior year, it wasn't the only one. However, I know and am living proof that if I went to another school, my life would be dramatically different. I wouldn't have met the same people that have impacted me and would probably be majoring in something completely different. But now, I know I wouldn't have changed what struggles and hardships I went through my senior year to get to where I am today.

You are going to have rejections. It is just part of life. But always remember, especially during this time of decision making and stress, you are much more than what college you get into and chances are, you'll fall in love with where you go, whether it was your 1st choice or it wasn't.

At the end of it all, you'll be sitting right where I am, surrounded by all of your new friends, and thankful that this is where God placed you to be. So, go enjoy your senior year, don't stress out too much, and always remember that there is a reason for every little thing that happens.