Choosing a college can be a stressful time. Trying to decide what's most important, compare and contrast programs, and have a pro and cons list, all so you can further your education. Stressful. Not like high school, where you just go wherever your parents decide to live. For once it's your decision, a decision that can change your life sometimes.

So I thought I'd share a little about my journey and what led me to choose the school I did. Here's a little you need to know about me: I came from the small city of Bristol, Tennessee. I love to hike and take pictures. I just graduated high school, my school only had about 1,200 people total.

Then comes college decision day and what do I do? I choose my first choice, the University of Tennessee, which just so happens to have around 35,000 people, talk about nerve-wracking. A small town girl about to embark on one of the greatest journeys of her life, who gets nervous in crowds, surrounded by thousands of people.Though I didn't let the fears of a new place and being away from home stop me.

When I was looking for colleges originally UT wasn't even an option. Gawky bright orange and the huge campus? Just didn't seem fitting. I thought I was going to go to a school by the beach or far away from home because I was convinced that that's where I'd be happiest.

However, my parents convinced me to visit the school and take a tour. So the summer leading up to my senior year of high school, we went to Knoxville to explore UT. And y'all, let me just say I was honestly blown away by how beautiful the campus was and the welcoming attitudes. I didn't realize at the time, but even my mom mentioned that I said "When I go here.." and not "If I go here.." like I had at other schools.

With that said, that put UT at my top choice. I followed through with the enrollment and housing application. And as an admitted student I got a discount to the homecoming game. Never in my life had I saw so much orange. Or have had Rocky Top stuck in my head for a month after. And now here I am, graduated and about to start my journey at this awesome school. Though, I'm still not a fan of the orange or all that prepared to have Rocky Top stuck in my head every time I want to go to a football game.

The point of this is not to convince you to go to UT, even though it is a great school. I just wanted to relay the message, that sometimes you need to step back and think about where you actually want to be and what's more important to you. For me, it was the ability to be able to go home easily, a beautiful campus, a neat city, and the sense of home I felt.

Though everyone has different ideas of what's more important. It could be the distance from home, program, campus aesthetic, surrounding area, cost, etc. College is an amazing opportunity, not only to further your education but to meet new people and explore new places. I wish everyone luck on their journey's ahead and hope they find a school where they feel welcomed like the University of Tennessee has made me feel.

Gawky orange is definitely not my color, but I'm still proud to be a #futurevol!