With hopes, dreams and plans tucked away under their gowns and caps, many students feel the anticipation, optimism, and for some, the uneasiness that comes with graduating high school. Ready to start the next chapter in their lives, students often feel set with either securing a plan for a gap year, job or volunteer position, or their program of choice at a university. Countless films and shows depict lifelong friendships, and an abundance of opportunities for travel, academics, exploration, and deliver the message that no matter what school you attend, you’ll probably have a wonderful time. This,however, is not always the case. Some students do not enjoy the structure or pace of a university, while others,like myself, find themselves transferring and applying to university all over again.

My first year of university fulfilled my love of travel and allowed me to explore the world around me while completing my education. This,however, also limited the amount of courses I was exposed to. When I realized I wanted to pursue a degree in the

realm of journalism and communications, rather than psychology, I quickly searched for the program at my university. Unfortunately, they had no courses related to those fields. I soon realized I needed to transfer to another school.

No one in high school even entertained the thought that this could happen. I always thought once you found your university, you were going to stay there until you graduated. As it turns out,however, many students do transfer, not just changing their program, but also their university. In retrospect, it doesn't surprise me why people transfer universities. We go from asking our teachers permission to use the washroom, to suddenly making important financial and lifestyle decisions. All joking aside, attending university can be a very daunting task, coupling that with transferring midway, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Not only are you changing your university, but also where you choose to live, the friends you’ll make, the clubs you’ll attend, and a whole host of opportunities and moments you wouldn't experience otherwise. At the same time, you won’t be able to pursue an educative career with the friends and professors you met in your first year. This dichotomy between these two aspects may be difficult to process, but it may be the push you need to pursue what you may truly want or need.

Transferring can be scary but it also could be the opportunity that you need to help benefit yourself, and experience the opportunities you've always wanted.