I am a journalism major at Ball State University with a minor in fashion. I have learned so much from the courses I have taken and I use that information in other aspects of my life as well, but going to school at a university is way more than just earning a degree.

I didn't just switch schools when I graduated high school, I completely changed my life in every way and I am not the same person I was because of it.

The biggest change was moving away from home and not having my parents to do everything for me. It was very hard at first. I felt lost and called my mom with any question I had. So I would be calling her at least three times a day.

But the thing about living on your own is that you eventually get used to it. Now I am doing almost everything by myself. Grocery shopping, making doctor appointments and even just making decisions for myself because I know what is best for me now.

It is a great feeling to be independent. Going off to college has turned me into an adult and it takes a really special place to make that transition look easy.

Besides school and living on my own, I have met so many people at Ball State that I hope to have in my life forever. I came here knowing just one person and now I have a second family and a boyfriend that I can see sharing my life with.

It's crazy that just a little over two years ago all these people were just strangers and now I can't picture life without them.

Anyone who says it doesn't matter where you go to college is wrong because if it weren't for Ball State my life would be totally different.

I am better because of this university.

The thing about Ball State that I think I will cherish the most are the memories. My college experience has been filled with so much friendship, adventure, and love. Those are things you can't just get anywhere.

From rooming with my best friends, the annual "Beer Olympics", and family weekends at the tailgate. I wouldn't trade those memories for the world and I can't imagine missing out on all of this.

There aren't very many times in your life where you get to live with all of your friends, walk 5 minutes to your boyfriend's house, then wake up and walk 10 minutes to your class the next day.

I wish life could always be like this, with everything I love right at my fingertips.

From all the people I have met to the experiences I have had, I am an entirely new me. You really do find yourself when you are on your own trying to figure it all out.

I don't care about any other possible way it all could have ended up because this is home.

And when It's time for me to leave I am taking all of the growth and memories with me.