So you're a senior in high school and looking for your next place in life. It can be very overwhelming and stressful when trying to pick a college to apply to, so I thought I would tell my story of how I found my university!

I should start out by saying that I only applied to one college and that's what you don't do. Apply to as many as possible so you have a better chance. I only wanted to come to UCM, so I only applied here. I'm really glad I got accepted because I have no idea where I would be right now. But before you even apply to anywhere, you should go and visit as many campuses as you can. This will give you a feel of what it would be like if you were to walk it everyday to go to class. I toured around 5 different colleges. You want to make sure that you pick the campus with the least amount of hills (trust me it'll save your legs) and that has the buildings all in the same proximity and not super spread out. I fell in love with my campus because it was all compact, had little to no hills, and it only took me maybe 15 minutes to get from one side to the other. Even though it had all of these things, it still felt bigger than it looked.

I applied to my university and got in around November of my senior year. I cried I was so excited. I went to a football game and lost my mind because all I wanted was to be in the student section cheering on the mules. Little did I know that sophomore year I would be on the field as an athletic training student working with the football team. I proceeded to get many letters and notes from people at the university who were congratulating me and telling me they couldn't wait to have me on campus to further my career! My favorite part was buying all my college stuff. I love school supplies so I had a hay day with this. I stocked up on notebooks and folders and binders, the usual. I also had to buy sheets and a printer and other stuff I've never had to buy before.

Fast forward to August, I started getting my stuff all packed and started saying my goodbyes to family and friends at home, and began my 5 hour drive to Warrensburg. That was the hardest thing I had to do. I settled in rather quickly and didn't cry at all. I met the people that made up the Athletic Training Program here and realized that I was terrified because I wasn't confident enough. But I did it anyway with the help of the friends I made that day. Those people are some of the reasons I stayed here. I was beginning to get homesick but I always got distracted when I was with these people. I started creating a life in the Burg and I was totally ok with it!

I'm starting to make adult decisions and I'm doing things for myself. I can credit that to my mom mostly for letting me come here. If she didn't I wouldn't have met the people I've met or made the memories I've made. So thanks mom! College is the best however many years you decide to spend here. It's where you make the best memories from awful decisions and the best friends out of the best people. So please make sure you pick a university that you want, not that anyone else wants. This is your life, live it!