In high school I was extremely self conscious. I had no reason to be, but at the time I thought everything I did or said was wrong. I would always look around and wonder what went on in my classmates minds when they looked at me.

Did my hair look okay? Was I walking too slow or too fast?

I tried my best to please everyone but to me it wasn't enough.

In my senior year of high school, I thought it was time to break out of my shell and take on a different part of the country. The University of Arkansas at Monticello was my choice and I would be enrolled in the fall. I knew God was calling me there for a reason I didn't understand at the time.

I packed my bags and said good-bye to all my high school friends and started the long twenty-four hour drive to the small town of Monticello. On move-in day, I knew I was the only outsider there. Everyone else knew each other and got along well while I struggled to find my place. I soon met nice girls who started to included me in everything they did such as lunch, study sessions, and movie marathons. They saw how shy and timid I was at first and soon began to realize my social anxiety. They began to bring me to parties and introduce me to their high schools friends and I soon became more comfortable.

College started changing me for the better, I soon began to realize everyone here was unique in their own way and nothing was wrong with that. My anxiety began to go away and I started not caring what people thought of me and I was much more self confident and happier with myself. I began making friends with a variety of people who made me feel safe and like I was free to be myself without fear of judgement. My high school friends learned the new me, and they see how much happier I am and how self confidant I have become.

College has for sure changed me for the better.