It’s the beginning of the summer before my freshman year of college, and I’m with my mother driving back from orientation at Indiana University. It was everything I wanted in a school-- liberal, diverse, beautiful, and most importantly, not in Ohio, where I’d grown up. The people I’d met were kind and accepting. There was even a Starbucks across the street from campus. But I’d never felt more out of place. Everyone and everything I’d ever known was three and a half hours away, and, even though I’d previously sworn I’d never attend college in my home state, I couldn’t stay there. And that’s how I ended up switching to Miami University of Ohio halfway through the summer.
If during my senior year you had told me I’d end up attending Miami, I wouldn't have believed you. It was everything I hated-- a conservative, undiverse college in Ohio. I’d only applied to please my mom. But I needed to be closer to home, and that’s where I ended up for my freshman year of college. And, despite my reservations, I enjoyed my time there. I made a wonderful group of friends and the campus itself was beautiful. But it wasn’t home. So, every single weekend, I made the two-hour drive back home to Columbus. Leaving was the best part of my week.
If I’m being honest, I mainly made the trek to see my boyfriend, who attended OSU. But it was also because, despite my friends, I felt incredibly alone. Most of the people were snobby, preppy, and judgmental. I’d never felt so self-conscious. I didn’t fit in, and it was painfully obvious. I spent as much time as I could at home. And, for a second time, I was unhappy with my school. So, when I completed my freshman year, I transferred again.
I’d never dreamt I’d end up at Ohio State. My house was ten minutes from campus. My original goal was to get as far away from home as possible, but I couldn't have been more wrong. OSU was comfortable. My boyfriend went there, my family lived right down the road. And I’ve found the students to be incredibly kind and accepting. It’s such a vastly large campus that you can wear whatever you want, do whatever you want, and it doesn't matter. No one cares if you’re “different” because there’s such a wide diversity of students that there’s no set dress code, no predetermined way to act.
But I can’t say I’m completely satisfied. There are aspects of Miami that I miss, and will always miss. Miami’s campus was by far the most gorgeous campus I’ve seen. OSU smells like sewage. I used to be able to walk to my car, now I have to take a fifteen-minute bus ride because the campus is so incredibly huge. Throughout all of this, I’ve heard countless stories about people finding their “dream school." I realize now I'll never have that. But that’s ok.
I think what I’m trying to say is so many students seem concerned with finding the school that was made for them, a place where there’s nothing to dislike. And if you do, that’s great. It’s a good feeling to wake up every morning and be in love with where you are. But if you don’t, that’s alright. Find a school where you’re satisfied, where you can tolerate taking classes. Unfaltering school pride isn’t necessary to get a degree. I’ll never be completely happy where I’m at. Maybe it’s the pessimist in me. Dream schools are ideal.
But if all you can find is a school you can tolerate, that should be good enough. I've spent far too much time trying to find the single school where I belong. I've now learned to be accepting of what I have, where I am, and the choices I've made.
