We’re just a few weeks away from the start of a new school year, so I guess I have school on the mind. As I am preparing to attend my second semester up at college, I got to thinking about how I ended up choosing what school to go to.

When I was 15 years old, one of my best friends and I started to talk about college. That may seem crazy; we still had three years, right? Well... Not exactly. My friend and I talked about college excitedly, with that little drop of nervousness that every young person feels when they first start to think about college. Then we came to a decision. We were both going to graduate a semester early, then we'd go up to the same school and be roommates, or at least spend a lot of time together.

We had it all planned out. Not once in the next two years did either of us change our plans to graduate early and go to the same college. Never did we think that it wouldn't be our choice.

Of course, anyone who has had a plan for anything in their life can point and laugh and say, "Well, of course, that didn't work out!"

They would be right.

The beginning of my senior year of high school, I was well on my way to applying to three colleges, sure that I would get into the one I wanted to go to.

Of course, college applications are a nightmare. Between essays, religious things, general information, test scores, etc., I was about ready to crawl under my bed and never come out. But deadlines were looming, so I persevered, and finally finished my applications.

I said I only applied to three colleges, right? Well, let me explain why I only applied to these particular three. One, of course, was the college I was planning to attend, a church-owned university with an average of about 30,000 students, and incredibly cheap tuition. It was one of the places most recommended for me to go. My parents had gone there. I had friends and family in the area. My friend had already been accepted.

School number two was a similar institution. Another university owned by the church just a few hours away from the first. This one was smaller, a little less crowded, and probably more my type of school, which was something I ignored, focused on the first school.

School number three was one that had barely crossed my radar. A couple of people I knew had attended it, and then that summer the school contacted me asking if I would like to apply. I pretty much shrugged my shoulders and decided that since they were waiving the application fee I might as well. It couldn’t hurt anything, even if I wasn’t going to that school anyways.

I never thought I’d cry so hard when I received that rejection letter. School number one, the dream school, the one I’d planned on since I was 15 years old (and probably before then), had decided my test score was too low, and promptly sent me one of those letters that makes your brain melt with their sense of false disappointment. At least, that’s what it felt like to receive one.

My friend reminded me that it would all work out, even though she was disappointed we wouldn’t be going to the same college. There was still school number two, which was only a few hours away. If I went there, then we could visit. And that school was more my style anyways.

At least, that was what I thought. Then I started to actually study the two universities that had yet to send me a response regarding my application. If I’d really had my heart set on school number two, maybe I wouldn’t have done that. But I was now feeling uncertain as to what I should do, and I wanted to be absolutely sure that the college I went to was the college for me.

So I looked at majors and course lists. I looked at scholarships, since there was no way I’d be able to make it to school without financial aid. I talked to friends at both schools, and asked questions.

For a little while, I was still leaning towards school number two, especially when a good friend there landed me an incredible full ride scholarship and part time job opportunity. I mean, not that many students can say they get that kind of opportunity! And I was excited, since it had everything to do with my talents, everything to do with what I actually want to make a career out of; writing!

However, now I was conflicted. I was starting to fall in love with school number three.

It was a small town school called Southern Virginia University. Located in a town I’d never heard of before, the number of students barely peaked 1,000. The main building was a lovely victorian style hotel that had been changed to become a school. The school focuses on liberal arts (I’m huge on anything art), and I was liking even the required courses.

School number two on the other hand, I didn’t see any major that interested me, the required classes looked frustrating, and the only reasons I wanted to go there involved financial reasons (full ride, c’mon), and friends.

I think it says something that when I got accepted into Southern Virginia University, I jumped into the air and literally yelled “YES!” as loud as I could. I was at a youth camp working as a youth leader, and my friend had lent me her phone so I could check my email really quickly. I spent the rest of the day bouncing off the walls, despite the fact that another friend and I had pulled an all-nighter the night before.

In case any of you were wondering, that should be your reaction when you get accepted into the perfect college for you. If you just nod in acceptance, or even just smile, abort mission. Go back and find the perfect school for you, the one that makes you feel like singing (even if you normally hate singing), or doing jumping jacks, or even (and I know this might shock you) possibly learning something.

I didn’t react that way when college number two accepted me. Go figure.

I still thought about it for a couple of days, struggling with the financial side of things, and what my friends would say (full ride scholarship, seriously). Finally, I realized that my education was just that, mine, and if I was going to a school for financial reasons and not learning reasons, than I wasn’t going to further my education.

Clearly my plan did not work out. I thought I had everything figured out so that it would all end up just how I’d imagined it, and instead, I was actually thrilled to be going to a school on the opposite side of the country to the one I’d originally planned on attending.

For all of you getting ready to go back to school, whether it’s high school, or college, whether you’re a freshman or a senior, whether you’re still trying to decide where you want to go, or debating housing and finance options, just know that even if your plan doesn’t work out, there is always a plan for you, and it will always end up working out.

There will always be uncertainties and excitement in the future, and sometimes despite your fears, you will have to embrace them and move forward to find the future that you are seeking.