I spent nearly all four years of high school certain of where I wanted to attend college. I had a plan set in place; I would attend a highly academic private college after high school and continue to graduate school afterward. I spent my freshman and sophomore years striving for the highest grades in order to accomplish my goal. Little did I know that there was another plan in place for me, and no amount of planning on my part would change that plan.

When junior year rolled around, I became terribly unhappy at the high school I was attending. I felt that there was no other option except to try again at another school. Despite this major change to my academic life, my desire to attend the college of my dreams remained as strong as ever.

I continued to pursue entry into the college I had longed for so long. I had my application submitted well before the date of the first early decision deadline. I waited eagerly for an answer in the mail. Surely the answer would be yes. My whole life led to the moment I got into this school. I had worked my entire life for that moment.

The night I found out I was not accepted into the college of my dreams was surprisingly less crushing than I suppose it should have been. I had just been told that I would not be going to the school that I had worked my whole life to get into, so why was I not crushed? The only way I can explain my peace of mind is simply that I felt there was a reason for all of it. There was a reason I did not get into the school I had been so sure I belonged at. There must be a reason. What did I do next, then? I waited.

In December, I received a letter from another school. I had never visited this school and it was certainly not my top choice at that point. I knew very little about it other than my guidance counselor suggesting it to me. My mother stood by my shoulder as I ripped the seal of the letter open and read my acceptance letter along with the granting of my scholarship.

As I look back today on the fateful day that I was rejected from my first choice, it is easy to say that I am so glad I did not get it. However, I could not have said that then. Regardless of the fact that I ended up happy, rejection just sucks. With the perspective I have now, though, I realize that there was a reason for not getting into what I thought was the right choice. Because as much as we think we know what is right for us, we don’t always know. Your backup school might just become your dream school and the perfect home for four years, as mine is.