Throughout high school, I never actually started to think about college or where I maybe wanted to go in the future until my senior year when I literally had to. I was not the type of person that had an ultimate dream college that I was dying to go to, or a college that I knew I wanted to apply to. I had an idea of two colleges, and that was because my older siblings went to those schools, and I had seen them briefly. However, it is very different to go to a school for your sibling, and to visit a school in preparation for your future. So, I had not looked at any colleges for myself. Needless to say, you do not have to have a dream school in mind to find your next home.

I never perceived either college my siblings went to as a potential home, and that was mostly because neither had the program I was interested in. Although I never gave what college I wanted to go to the time of day throughout high school, throughout my entire childhood I knew what I wanted to study. Yet, the key to choosing a college is not what you want to do with the rest of your life, as most have absolutely no idea.

The key to choosing a college is thinking about what you are comfortable with regarding class sizes, the area you would want to live in whether that be a city or a small-town college, the distance from home, and maybe the academic rigor. Once that is all settled, the only thing left to worry about is the tuition of course, but that is another discussion. Whatever place makes you the most comfortable when you think about it, is probably the place for you because this is the biggest step in an adolescents future Once the college of choice itself is picked, all that is left to do is go.

Freshmen year is a year that is infamous in a lot of peoples’ minds. The year of new beginnings, for most people, too much partying or finding their drinking limits, and mostly just finding yourself. For me, freshmen year was not just a new beginning but one of the best years of my life. Yes of course, the idea of being 200+ miles away from home was a bit intimidating and a difficult adjustment, but when you find your own little family at school, it becomes another place you do not want to leave.

Within a 9-month period, with a month and a half long break, I have met the best friends I have ever had. The amount of inside jokes, memories made, and amount of food consumed is probably more than I have had in my whole life combined. College is scary, but if you allow yourself to meet new people and adjust comfortably, you will find your own little family and you will find your second home.

My unsolicited overall advice to all second semester high school seniors is, choose where you feel most comfortable with the biggest change. A place that excites you to go to, not a place that terrifies you to the point you do not want to leave home. Also, when you get there, do not hole up in your room. Get out of your comfort zone and go say hi to a stranger. You never know who they’ll become a few weeks later, mine happens to be the best friend I have ever had and someone I literally cannot go an hour without talking to.

It’s crazy, it’s scary, and it’s a whirlwind for sure. However, my freshman year I figured out who my closest friends were at home, how to still feel close to my family, I met my absolute best friends, and I have already gotten a glimpse into the future I have always wanted. For the seniors, enjoy the last stretch of high school but, do not be anything but excited for the next step.