When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea where I wanted to go let alone what I wanted to do. I never really thought about it and at this point a lot of people in my graduating class spent their summer looking at colleges. As for me? I kind of grazed through a couple but ultimately I didn't know what I wanted to do.

Fast forward to about a month into my senior year, I finally figured out what I wanted to major in and I applied to a couple colleges. One was in my home town, The University of Toledo, and the other was about an hour away, Eastern Michigan University. Both were amazing schools and had great programs for my major. I compared everything from housing to the programs and everything in between. In the end, I chose Eastern Michigan.

One of the main reasons that I chose Eastern was that I knew that if I went it would be completely out of my comfort zone. I wouldn't know anyone and I'd be getting a new start. Unlike if I went to The University of Toledo which would basically feel like high school all over again since a lot of my graduating class went there. I wanted something new and Eastern was it.

That whole summer, I was both scared and excited. I was excited for all the new experiences and to be in a new place was pretty exciting. I was scared because I've never been on my own that long before let alone away from my family too.

Now three years later, coming to Eastern has been one of the best decisions of my life. I got to explore a new city and fall in love with it as much as my hometown. Not to mention Eastern's campus is beautiful.

I'm not going to lie, there's been times where its been hard but pushing yourself out of your comfort zone shouldn't be easy. My first year was the hardest because everything was so new and I didn't really know where to start. I even thought about transferring at one point but I knew that I had to stick it out for at least a semester. A semester was what it took for me to get more comfortable here. I missed my family a lot and I missed my friends. Knowing that they are only an hour away helped though.

Through out these past three years, I've had my ups and my downs but I've had the best time here at Eastern and I wouldn't change it at all. I've learned how to be on my own. On top of that, I've grown a lot since my senior year. Some things that haven't changed like I still miss my family and my friends.

In the end, I'm so glad that I chose to go to Eastern. It's been one of the best experiences I've had and I wouldn't change it at all.