1. Universities and community colleges have their differences

Here's what I've noticed:

Student life is different. I've observed that students at a university are more likely to get involved in school-related activities like clubs, sports games, and greek life. At my community college, I didn't see much interest from students to get involved in some way or another.

I've also noticed some class sizes at university are significantly larger than those at a community college. (There's still small class sizes too). The biggest lecture hall at my previous college could hold a maximum of 100 students, and while that may seem big, just imagine one that could hold 350.

From a certain perspective, it may not be someone's cup of tea, and I get that. Less one-on-one time with your professors, a harder time getting to know your classmates because everyone sits in a different seat every day, or maybe it's just the fact that you are competing against 350 people for that title of "Best Essay".

Can I let you in on a secret though? I kind of like it.

In some ways, it makes me a better student because I have to work harder in order to be recognized. In other ways, it teaches me life skills that I don't know where I would learn elsewhere.

It teaches me to be confident when I introduce myself to my professor after class and discuss their lecture. It teaches me to be extroverted when I want that same person to sit next to me the next day; and most of all, when I turn in that essay, it teaches me to be fearless, because I know I worked so much harder than the rest of those 349.

2. I miss home like crazy (especially the dogs)

Moving out of state was a personal choice. I wanted to discover my what my true purpose was. I wanted adventure in the great wide somewhere! But I couldn't move to France where Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" lived. So, I settled for Oregon. Not too far from home, but far enough where it was faster to get there by plane than car.

I'm kidding. The whole reason I chose the University of Oregon was for their School of Journalism and Communication. Plus, I fell in love with Oregon during my previous excursions here. I'm excited to be on my own. It's nice to have that independence. No one to tell you what to do. No one to ask you where you are. No one to answer to but yourself. It's liberating.

But the thing I didn't expect, was that I would end up missing those exact things listed above. At first, the opportunity to have so much freedom seems appealing, and it is. But it's also scary.

I'll admit that I'm scared knowing I don't have any family with me. What happens if I need help? How do I know what setting to put the iron on? (I could probably just Google this, but I trust my grandma's knowledge more).

I cannot express how much I miss home, my bedroom, my family, and of course, my dogs. I swear I think about my dogs every day. And honestly, I miss California. I miss being close to everything, I miss my old job, my friends, and my car.

But even after all this, I know I'm going to be okay. My family and friends are only a phone call away. I FaceTime my dogs all the time. And for now, I can live without my car. (But not that long since I've decided to bring it up during Winter Break).

3. I feel like I'm out of the loop at my school

As a transfer student entering as a third-year, I can honestly say that I feel out of the loop sometimes. Coming from my previous college, where I progressed normally, it's a strange feeling when someone a grade younger than you knows more than you. In a way, I feel embarrassed.

I don't know all the campus lingo yet. I get lost sometimes. And I still haven't completely figured out the public transportation system.

I understand that I'll learn these things in due time and I shouldn't worry. But I believe what makes me the most upset, is that I don't have those two extra years to learn about everything, or to do everything. I'm a junior already. I don't have time to do the things that students get to do in their first two years of college. But that's okay; because I knew from the get-go that it was going to be like that.

I must look on the bright side of things.

Even though I never got to experience the true realities of being a freshman at university, will never get to become close friends with the people in my dorm, or even get to rush a sorority, I'm still grateful for the experiences I did have during those two years at community college.

The smaller classes made learning more intimate and gave me the chance to be sociable with my classmates and professors.

The wide range of diversity I was surrounded with, made me more self-aware of the world that I live in today.

The work I did taught me to be accountable for my actions and trained me for the firestorm of responsibility that is ahead of me.

And lastly, with confidence I can say, it prepared me to not only be successful in university, but in life as well.

So no, I will not allow myself to be embarrassed any longer.

I worked too hard to feel ashamed.

I am proud to be an out-of-state student.

I am proud to be a community college transfer student.

I am proud to be a student at the University of Oregon.