Way back when, when I started my college search, I had a long list of schools, their SAT scores, their acceptance rates, their enrollment, and so on. I spent hours upon hours researching which college might be the best fit for me, taking countless tours, and always second guessing myself. Finally, I decided on a public state school an hour and a half away from home. I made new friends, got involved with student organizations, and got good grades. What wasn't there to love? I thought I had found the perfect college. But I was wrong.
There is no such thing as the "perfect" college.
Sometimes, you're going to feel alone. There will be nights where you stay up until 3 a.m. crying because your unfinished paper is due in 6 hours and you just spilled your coffee all over the floor. There are going to be times when you sit in your friend's room venting about how much you hate that person in your class and how stressed out you are. You're going to have a mental breakdown because you think that you chose the wrong major just to switch it then switch back again. But, all of this is normal. It happens. And this just comes along with the college experience. It doesn't mean that you chose the wrong college. But no matter where you go, you're going to have these experiences, or others like them. So, no college is perfect; you'll find yourself in the same boat almost anywhere you decide to go. But, there is a college out there for you, and once you find it, the good days will outweigh the bad, and you'll learn to live with the fact that you made the best decision, not the perfect decision.
As I go into my sophomore year, I am a little scared. College brings unexpected twists that you never thought could happen. But, with some good friends (and maybe some junk food), you can get through them, because you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. So, if you're ever having a bad day, or questioning whether you really chose the right college, stop and think about all the good times you've had and those to come, and you should be at ease with the choices you've made. And, if not, then you have the power to change them.
