If you’re thinking of transferring universities, then you are in the right place.

There seems to be a stigma that if you transfer schools during your undergraduate education, you are weak and you did something wrong. I want to address and destroy this petty mentality. I have first hand experience with this, as I transferred from University of Nebraska Lincoln to the University of Minnesota in 2016.

"You missed home?"

"You didn't like it?"

"You didn't have any friends?"

These are all questions I have been asked from people about my decision to switch my undergraduate education institution. But these questions don't matter. There is a bigger picture here that needs to be realized.

Before I departed for college, I lived my entire life growing up in the beautiful Midwestern city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although I was deeply fond for where I came from, I yearned to move as far away as possible. The cliche of the small town girl moving hundreds of miles away to a big city and thriving is what I wanted my life to transform to. But this was merely a day dream. My dream university was in San Diego but the cost was a high reach, and out of the question.

So I ended up moving six hours away (by car) instead. The campus had everything I was searching for and really is a beautiful quaint city. My first semester was great but my hesitations developed in my second half of freshman year. Things did not feel right and I realized it wasn’t something I could change. I am a firm believer of making the best out of every situation, but I couldn’t stop thinking that I was in the wrong place. As a journalism major, I was curious for an exciting environment in a large city to find inspiration, and where I was didn’t offer that. Ultimately I made the decision to transfer back to my home town's university.

This decision was not easy, because of my fear of what others would think about me. I was terrified to be judged for making a decision that could potentially show that I was weak, unsuccessful, and unable. But this is ridiculous. Because your college choice is not permanent. It is an enriching and expensive experience where you transition into your full adult self, and you deserve to be in an environment that will fully allow that to happen.

There are a great deal of reasons why transferring is a great choice. Financial reasons, your state of well-being, and academics are all reasons why transferring may be the best option. College is already stressful enough, and sometimes going through the effort to change universities is what is for the best.

Although it took time to adjust, I finally found my niche, and I have never been happier. If you are hesitant about any aspect of your life, you have the control to change that. I urge everyone to take a closer look at their lives and realize you have the power to change your situation, and judgement is not apart of that equation.