You know, I never intended to be “the transfer student.” I’ll be the first to admit that I, like anyone, can have a hard time making decisions. Whether it be the simplest decisions in life, like what I want for dinner, to the major ones, such as what college I want to attend. Like most high school students, I chose a school where I imagined that I would spend the next four years of my life and call home. But here I am, beginning a new chapter at the third university I have attended. Here are a few things that I have learned from my experiences being a transfer student.
1. It involves a lot of work.
I didn’t realize before, but there actually is a lot of work that goes into transferring. When you decide to transfer to another college, there is a checklist of things you need to get done. You have to send all your transcripts, withdraw from your current university, and in some situations you’re required to move to an entirely different city or state. Sure, it doesn’t sound like much but it can become a real nightmare.
2. It is a chance to start over.
Transferring to a different university has created opportunities that I would have never experienced if I had stayed where I was. It has given me the opportunity to move out of my parents' house (love you, mom and dad) and live on my own for the first time in two years, all while pursuing my nursing degree. Transferring gives you the option to start over in a new place and recreate both yourself and your life into one that you love.
3. Learn to embrace the change.
Change is scary, I know. But how often are you going to be able to drop everything and move to a new city? After college, you’re going to be busy starting a family, focusing on your career, and doing adult things (ugh). Enjoy this experience, because it is not every day that you get to pick up your life and move.
4. It is scary.
Like I said before, change is scary and being fearful of the unknown is normal. I’m leaving the place I grew up, moving away from my family, boyfriend, best friends, and job that I love to a place where I can count the people that I know on one hand. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared! It is completely out of my comfort zone, but if you don’t do things that push you out of your comfort zone you’ll never grow.
5. It is worth it.
Even though transferring may push you out of your comfort zone, anything that is going to benefit you and your future is worth it. Trust yourself, trust your decisions, and trust that everything is going to work out the way it is supposed to.
I never thought that I would be “the transfer student.” Even though transferring from college to college wasn’t in my plan, I don’t regret the time I spent at other schools and I don’t regret making the decision to transfer. I couldn’t be happier that I’ve finally found a college that I can call my “home away from home,” and know that I will be graduating from in five short semesters.
