I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Louisville, Kentucky, and I enjoyed every second of it. Just like anyone's hometown, everyone knew everyone in Louisville and it was oftentimes thought of as the largest small town in Kentucky. Everyone attended the same elementary schools and high schools, so my twin sister and I remained in the same circle of friends throughout most of our lives.
It was comfortable and easy, and I was happy to be exactly where I was.
Before high school, I had never given much thought to where I would attend college, so when high school counselors spoke to our junior class about the application process, I panicked. Where did I want to go for another four years? What ACT score did I need to earn? The questions were endless. Briefly, after this meeting, I began the college tour process.
Initially, I told myself I wanted to get far away from Louisville. Though I loved my hometown, I felt required to leave the state for college simply because that was the popular thing to do. This statement was further proven when I visited the University of South Carolina. I immediately fell in love with the campus, academics, and social life that surrounded the university. I knew that it would be the place for me and even attended one of their Open House events during my senior year of high school. I applied in early September of my senior year and was accepted the following November.
I felt like I was on top of the world up until I faced the reality of the situation: I would be moving eight hours away from my twin sister, my parents, and everything I knew. I would only come home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer. Was this what I wanted?
Over the next three months, I constantly debated what to do. I had also applied to the University of Kentucky after touring there my junior year and had other options in front of me as well. After weighing the pros and cons and being closer to home versus a plane ride away, my mindset began to change. My twin sister and best friend would be attending UK, it was only an hour and a half from home, and I was sure my parents would be ecstatic to have their only two daughters in the same place. I decided to give UK another chance and visited campus again.
After my second weekend at Kentucky, I found myself babbling about the beauty of the campus and how simple it was to find my way around. I felt comfortable at UK and it gave me the confidence I had been searching for. I knew I had finally reached a decision.
I found my home away from home.
I am now a second-semester freshman at UK and could not be happier to be where I am now. I joined a sorority in the fall, declared a major that matches my values and academic strengths, and I have made countless memories since August. I made a brand new group of friends who feel like sisters to me, and they are the people I never knew I needed.
UK is the perfect distance from my home that makes it easy to drive home on any given weekend. I made a point to step out of my comfort zone in college and it has provided me with even more opportunities than I ever imagined. UK is now a second home for me and I am so happy I made the decision to enroll here.
When choosing a college, weigh all of the options.
It may be the school you overlooked that will end up being the place where you want to spend four more years. I cannot wait to see where the next three will take me!