What you do to further your education is totally up to you, but I decided to attend a large college campus. I hear how people wouldn't like to go to a school with such a large campus or they couldn't handle being in classes with 600 people in a lecture. I understand that people want different college experiences and atmospheres, and my choice of picking a large university is helping me reach my even bigger goals in life.
I get the stress of being around lots of people or the fact that you can have a 15-minute walk to different buildings during the day can be daunting. The idea of going to a place so big can be overwhelming for everyone, but I have realized the importance of coming out of your comfort zone. Attending a large university can push you out of your comfort zone every day you go to lecture. I've grown up in a small town my entire life, and attending a large school has opened my eyes to see how big the world is. If we let our fear of things bigger than us stop us from doing things, we will be at a standstill the rest of our lives.
Something I was told when visiting my future college home was that, and I use when describing my college experience is,
"You can make a big school feel small, but you can't make a small school feel big."
Every day I know I will always see someone I know. Whether I met them from a club or being in the same class, I always get and give a friendly smile or wave. Even though I attend a university with over 30,000 undergraduate students, I don't feel like I'm alone. I know I have gained a support system of friends, professors, and mentors that will be there for me as I continue my education and career goals.
Attending a large university gives you the freedom of feeling like you don't know anyone either. I can decide if I want to or don't want to see people. The campus is large enough that you can walk several different ways to one building. You can have this balance of feeling like you know everyone to not knowing a soul that you walk past. It is a beautiful feeling to have the choice for this experience, and it is as simple as choosing a different sidewalk to go through.
When you are deciding where you want to go to school, don't dismiss schools because they are large. Choosing the right college for you is like falling in love. It should feel right, there should be this moment where you know this is the place as you walk around campus. It is this moment where everything clicks and makes sense. I'm glad I chose the school I attend, and the 15-minute walk to get across campus is well worth the experiences I have had while in college.
