Transfer students tend to get looked at by fellow classmates as weak, dumb, unable to achieve anything and many other things because they are deciding to make the decision to move from one college to another.

"Oh did you hear so and so transferred schools?"
"OH YA! I did man! Obviously they couldn't make it around here."

This was a conversation I heard at the school I started at. And let me tell you, I knew the school I started at was the school for me. It was so beyond perfect and my four years there were to be amazing. I convinced myself this my first semester as struggled really bad. I had girls bullying me, minimal friends (not like you need many because quality over quantity, but still), the professors were not even close to understanding, it didn't help I was on crutches with a knee injury, and the list could go on for forever. My parents could tell I was unhappy, but I lied to them telling them I was okay because after all I was at the school "for me" and it was my "so-called perfect" school. This was not even close to the case and I laugh today thinking about it. The more I lied to myself about enjoying the school, the harder it became for me to even be there.

I reached my breaking point at mid-terms of my second semester. I called my mom and she came down to my school to get me and take me home for a much needed break. The first thing I said to her when I saw her, which was really hard for me to admit was, I need to get out of this place...I need to transfer. She agreed with me and said she supported any choice I was going to make.

I kept going back and forth about transferring or not. It was going to be another huge decision I would have to make. I didn't want people looking at me or thinking of me as that person I overheard from that conversation I mentioned before. I didn't want people thinking I failed out of my nursing program, thinking I didn't have the grades, any motivation, and so many other stereotypes that come to mind when other students think about transfer students. If you want to talk about a transfer student the way most students do who don't leave the college talk about those they know who leave the college I say, say whatever you want about transfer students even though you truly don't understand. However, don't try to stereotype us as the transfer student who couldn't make it at the school they were at because this is hardly the case. It is called, you don't know what everyone is going through and sometimes your life path just needs to change.

Not every first school a college student is going to go to is going to be THEIR school. It just doesn't work like that otherwise people wouldn't be able to learn and grow from their experiences. Transferring taught me a lot about myself and it especially did because I never thought I would be put in a position like I was.

Today I say whatever. I am truly happy with my decision. I know I made the best decision ever too because I am genuinely happy as a human being at the new school I transferred to and this was no where close to the case at my old school. I am a resident at my new school, I am in the nursing program, I have friends who are actually nice to me and not fake, I enjoy going to classes because the professors are nice, and this is a list that could go on and on filled with good things.

I am not ashamed to say I transferred now. At first, yes, I was embarrassed and hated telling people that I transferred from my first school. No one should have to feel like that. Transferring just means you tried something out and it just wasn't for you. Props to you though for recognizing that and continuing to grow somewhere else as a student and choosing that new school.

Transferring schools was a life saver for me. I am so thankful I was able to recognize my needs and what was best for me and ignore the ignorant people around me.

If you are a transfer student reading this I hope you feel the same way I do about the huge decision we had to make because we are amazing for it.

Transfer students are the best students.