All throughout High School, I told myself that I was going to go far away for college. Far FAR away. That was one of my biggest criteria when applying to colleges- making sure that they were mostly out of state. I am a fairly independent person and I just wanted to experience life free of parentally- imposed rules and live in a completely new state in a different part of the country. When I was accepted to practically every school I applied to, I felt so much closer to my dream. Now imagine my own surprise when I chose to dorm at a school only an hour away from.

"Chose," really isn't the perfect word. Persuaded, maybe... coerced, encouraged, motivated... Basically my parents made me go there because it was a decent school and it was cheaper. Do I regret my "choice" in school? Absolutely not. I've made so many amazing friends that I know I will be close with forever and I've chosen a major that I'm absolutely in love with. My school really helped me in finding my passion and I have amazing relationships with some of my professors. I will admit, I was not the most excited when I made the official decision ( I cried for almost 2 months), but this school really is the perfect match for me. Part of my initial dislike for my school had to do with the fact that it was "just a state school," and I thought to myself "why would I go here if I have so many other 'better' options?" Looking back, I have to acknowledge how ignorant I was. I am getting a great education from a top research University at a fraction of the cost of my "dream school." Not to mention that it is rated #14 for the top colleges in New York State for my major (Psychology).

While I am very content on where I currently go to school. I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if I chose to go somewhere else. Living further away from home is still something that I wish I had the opportunity to do. I know what some of you might be thinking. "Why does it matter if you dorm anyway. You don't HAVE to go back home. An hour away is still a good amount of distance." While this is true, my experience dorming an hour away from home is astronomically different than my experience would be if I lived 10 hours away from home. Also, the people here all act the same, talk the same, and have the same mannerisms as the people back home do. I wanted to immerse myself in different types of cultures and societies that exist in the United States, I wanted to go somewhere where it was warm all year round. Long Island is Long Island, not much else to say. I do love living here, don't get me wrong, I just think it would have been exciting to experience something new for a change.

I really do wonder what my life would look like if a went somewhere else. Would I act the same? Would I dress the same? Would I talk the same? There is still time for me to be able to live somewhere new, I am only a Sophmore in College. I really do believe that once I graduate I will be given that second chance. This time I will be the one to CHOOSE, not have it chosen for me.