If I could start my college experience over again, I would never have let someone else make my decision for me. Where I am at now, is not where I wanted to be. While there have been good times and I have enjoyed some of the experiences I have gone though, this was not what I wanted out of my college experience.
College is a big choice for anyone. Some people have their dream college picked out in high school. Others get large scholarships from colleges for athletics or academics. But when you are not in that and where ever you decide to go to college is just a default, still make a choice.
Of course, you are going to get advice from those closest to you. Hopefully, they are going to have the best interests of you in mind. Other times they are going to tell you what they want of you. They may help you in a decision, or they may make you even more confused in what to do.
But no matter what you do, don't settle. Don't settle on a college just because it will make someone else happy. Don't settle for the default college other's expect you to attend. These are four years of your life that will shape you into who you want to become. Four years of experience in life and towards the career you want.
If I was asked in high school where I wanted to attend college, this was a place that I listed off that I would never even think of applying to. Yet I applied to make others happy. I applied because it was a default. I was not getting the support I needed and I made a mistake. I made the mistake of not knowing what I wanted but knowing what I didn't want.
If I could do it all over, I wouldn't settle to make others happy. I would have stood my ground and did what I wanted. Because now I'm stuck. Stuck in a place where I am not happy, and not getting the support I need to change that. Stuck somewhere that I will never have a college experience, I will just be counting down the days until I am out of here.
While my time here will never be forgotten, it was something that I didn't want for myself. This was never a town I wanted to be in or college I saw myself attending. And going through some years here, I wish I never did. Memories have been made as well as lifelong friends. But I could have had these same things somewhere else. I could have gotten involved on a campus I cared about and a place that made me happy. But instead, I am not getting involved as much as I can and just waiting around for the day I get to leave.
