Freshman year winter break. The time when you come home to see all your home friends and talk for hours about how your first semester went. You talk about how you are obsessed with your school, love your friends, your crazy nights out and so much more.

This was true for my friends but for me it was different. I would sit there listening to all their college stories and I thought to myself wow my first semester was not like this at all at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Don’t get me wrong, I had great friends at school but looking back on my first semester I knew something didn’t feel right. I wasn’t having the same experience as most college freshman.

As winter break was coming to end and I was dreading going back to school. I thought to myself how did I choose this school. I made the wrong choice. I gave myself until spring break to see if anything would change and honestly things just got worse. I never felt so lost and I just felt like I wasn’t fitting in with my group of friends and I can tell we were becoming distant.

I knew from the start of spring semester that I didn’t want to be there anymore and it was time for me to find a new school. I started to apply to colleges in the south be cause I dreaded the cold weather. I visited schools to where I was accepted, once I saw the University of Tampa I knew this where I needed to go.

I put my deposit down and that was it. I was starting a new chapter in my life with new people. I was so excited to see what Tampa had in store for me.

My friends would always ask if I was nervous about making new friends, and if I really knew that the University of Tampa was the right choice for me. I had a feeling that this was going to be one of the best decisions I have made for myself in a really long time.

Yes I was scared. I was going to a school miles away from home, starting over with new people, having to go through the process of making new friends, and living with people who have already been friends for a year.

Summer was coming to an end pretty fast and within a blink of an eye I was off to Tampa. My body was filled with excitement and nerves.

Within the first week of school I already felt like this is where I needed to be all along. Transferring was the best thing I could of done. I didn’t feel lost anymore it felt right.

I was excited to go to class, excited to be with my friends and go on adventures. Something I couldn’t do and didn’t want to do while I attended school in the tundra known as Plattsburgh.

Transferring made me get more involved and allowed to meet so many new people. My friends and my sorority sisters are some of the most amazing people.

The weather is amazing, the people are amazing and the school is amazing. This is one decision I definitely do not regret. Getting out of bed for class is easier when its sunny and warm. It feels great to be around people who are similar to me and to be with people that always make you smile.

If you are thinking about transferring don't hold back. It may be the best decision you ever make.