All throughout high school, college applications were my main concern. Even as a freshman, I began to think about how I needed to package myself to appeal to the highest level of colleges. I played school volleyball all four years of high school, played club volleyball for two, held leadership positions in multiple extracurriculars, tutored junior high students, volunteered at the Veteran's Administration hospital regularly, had a job, graduated salutatorian, and had a 4.4 GPA with many AP courses.

When it came time to complete applications, I was only truly interested in the best of the best. Based on my family's financial status, I knew that I could receive near full rides from top schools, and college applications consumed my senior year. I was rejected from my top school in Early Action (Stanford) and then had to wait two more months before hearing any other decisions. I knew I had full rides at multiple state schools (Alabama, Washington, Idaho), but my academic ego was so large I couldn't stomach the thought of attending a state school.

Finally, March rolled around and it was time to hear the final verdicts. I was waitlisted at Rice and Tulane, accepted at Boston University, and rejected at Duke and Cornell. Then, I got the news that nearly made me crash my car as I was driving to a friend's house... I was accepted at Brown University. I called my parents, boyfriend, best friend, and everyone else I could think of that helped me through the application process. Both of my parents finished associate's degrees, but not a bachelor's, so to Brown, I was technically a first gen student. I was so shocked that this random girl from Idaho managed to get into a school with a less-than-10% acceptance rate in 2018. They offered me a free visit, and I flew to Rhode Island in April to take a look at the school.

However, I knew something was wrong.

During my visit, everything felt off to me. I didn't fall in love with the campus, the dorms, or the academics like I wanted to. It felt like the Thomas Rhett song where he says, "You make your plans and you hear God laughing." I sure felt God laughing while I was at Brown. It's as if he was telling me, "Listen, my child. It's not about being the best. It's about how I can use you wherever I put you."

My ego needed a check, and my visit to Brown is where God gave that to me.

After coming home, I committed to the University of Washington on a Naval ROTC scholarship. But... my ego was still in the driver's seat. On May 1, National Commitment day, I was notified that I had been medically disqualified and the scholarship was revoked. At this point, my ego had been fully broken down, and mentally I thought, "Alright God, put me where you want me because clearly me driving the car isn't going too well." The next day, I committed to the University of Alabama where I am currently attending. Take note, I am not saying UA is a bad school, whatsoever. It's a fantastic school.

The point to glean out of this is that sometimes God needs to break our egos down to fulfill His plan for His kingdom.

I never thought I would be going to the University of Alabama. However, I see exactly why God put me there. He wanted to give me a college ministry I could attend and be a part of. He needed to give me professors that care and opportunities in my major. He needed to teach me patience with people I don't always get along with. He needed to show me just how important my family and friends back home are to me. He needed Drew and I to do long distance to test our relationship and make it grow emotionally.

So, yes, I turned down an Ivy League offer. But I'm sure glad I did.