It is absolutely absurd that at the age of seventeen we are expected to know what we want to accomplish in our lives. The four+ years spent in school are intended to shape you to be the well-rounded individual the job market is seeking. People spend their entire lives attempting to uncover what their purposes are; maybe this is because in college they were unable to find their passions and destiny. Sound like a lot of pressure? Well, it is.

Attending the school that is right for you is extremely important. It's sad when you realize that maybe your number one choice isn't what you thought after all. So, what happens if you think you made the wrong decision? Sure, transferring is always an option, but discovering why your expectations failed you will make you stronger and open your mind to paths you never thought possible.

First and foremost, it is crucial you find the root of your distress. Colleges today offer hundreds of different clubs, teams, and resources. If you are unhappy, chances are you haven't found your niche yet.

Perhaps not loving your school is the result of having an awful roommate, or taking too many classes in a semester (all of which are things that can be changed). It is important to identify what the cause is, and from there the solution is simple: change your mindset.

Okay, kind of simple. Changing your outlook on anything is a great undertaking and will always be a challenge. But the good news is that it is achievable. Find out what you truly want to achieve and set daily intentions that work towards accomplishing that end goal.

For example, if your goal is to transfer to Penn State, find out why this is. Maybe it is because it is a big school. If this is the case, most likely your real goal isn't transferring to Penn State; it's finding a larger community that you can contribute to.

Identifying your issues is a task that you will be forced to do throughout your entire life. The reality is that things are not always as they may seem. Appearance deceives many, which is why it is vital that you are open-minded and therefore have the ability to see and value ALL aspects of a given situation.

In life, nothing goes wrong. When things don't meet expectation let go of how you think things should be. It's all a matter of not having an attachment to any fixed outcome.

Likewise, positive thoughts are not enough. You must accompany your mindset with feeling and action to make a true difference.

I wouldn't have been able to realize any of this had I thought I didn't love my dream school.