When I graduated from high school, I head right off to a college on one of the Great Lakes upstate: Oswego. I thought that I knew exactly what I wanted to do as a career: I was good at English, so why not become a teacher? At that time, that was the only path I knew, and I followed it blindly.

Turns out teaching during that current political and social climate wasn't exactly the best idea (Common Core and all that garbage), as remains an issue today. I got nervous about my decision, and being so young, I didn't know that I didn't have to run away to solve my problems. I'll also blame it on me being an alarmingly weak person back then because a larger chunk of my leaving college to take a semester off was because my boyfriend broke up with me.

Appalling, I know. Listen up, kids: DON'T DO WHAT I DID. You can make it through anything without needing to run away from it. Deal with your problems. Be a badass.

During that semester off, I realized that I was torn: did I want to go back to college? I didn't even know what I would want to study toward becoming anymore and I was tired of the thought of more homework and classwork and studying and tests and group projects and yadda yadda yadda... it was overwhelming and I wanted out.

After a brief tango with the idea of being a makeup artist (I admire all you MUAs out there because I could never do it), I chose to get back in the saddle and continue pursuing a college education.

I didn't go back to Oswego; that place is six to eight hours away by car, depending on traffic, and it's hella cold during the winter (thank you, lake-effect snow), and I wasn't going to give up the part-time job I had just gotten a few months prior, because money is life.

So, I went to Suffolk County Community College, also known as Go-To-Class-And-Go-Right-Home school. I didn't feel the sense of community that I was surrounded by at my old four-year college. It seemed to me that I was one of the few who really cared about how I performed in class, and I was too nervous to try and make friends because my classmates often ran right off to go home after their day was over. There was no semblance of belonging for me. I wanted something more substantial from my college experience and Suffolk could not provide it to me.

Cue Stony Brook University which came like a beacon in the dark for me. Without staying to complete my Associate's, I transferred right to SBU. I craved that four-year college life again. Even though I wasn't dorming this time, I hoped that I could find that sense of community I needed so badly so that I could grow professionally and socially.

I didn't want to run away from my problems anymore. I wanted to tackle them head on.

Stony Brook did not disappoint, even though I felt a little out of place at first as an English major in a primarily science-focused campus. Not once did I feel disrespected or lower than anyone else. The professors in my department are brilliant, passionate, and inspiring. They wanted me to grow, learn, and succeed... and I did.

Not only because of them, but also because of the community that I found. I joined the Commuter Student Association and was paired up with a Commuter Assistant of my choice who showed me around campus and who is now one of my good friends (heyyyy, Kayla!). She was crucial in my transition to becoming a true part of this community, not just an observer. Thanks to Kayla, I am now the Editor-in-Chief of the Stony Brook community at Odyssey, and I have changed radically.

My classes have taught me not only academic material but also that I am worthy of a challenge. Being in the honors program has made me, for the first time, truly believe in my intelligence and ability, whereas before I used to think that I was just being given A's because that's what was given out regardless of hard work. I never believed in my own ability to succeed.

Stony Brook has changed that, and I am so immensely grateful.

I'm no longer afraid to be a leader. I'm no longer anxious about meeting new people or trying new things. I'm no longer the person who will run away. Thank you, Stony Brook University, for showing me that there is a place for me. Thank you for being the school that opened up this opportunity for me so that I could fall in love with editing.

Thank you for being the place for me to discover who I am and who I can be.

Looking at myself now, I know in my heart that I really am happy with where I am in my life, and that's one of the best feelings in the world.