"This is it," I told myself. The beginning of what was supposed to be the best year of my life.Senior Year.

Its so constantly talked about, and looked forward to by all kids as a right of passage in a way, something that shows them they are close to "freedom" or so we think. Leading up to my senior year everyone talked about spring break, Prom, college. All things I thought I had figured out until they were actually presented to me.

Senior year brought obstacles and challenges my way I never thought I had to face solely because they are never talked about. Kids are told to pick colleges based on what they want to do as a career, and are told to choose what they want to do in their future, when half the time they can't decide what they want to eat for dinner. We are never given all the information, just the minor details that catch our eye.

My senior year started great, I won't lie. I had a great grade point average, I was the deputy commander of my ROTC unit, I was working good hours at my job and I was applying for scholarships. Everything was great up until it wasn't anymore. Things actually started becoming real. College deadlines started to slowly creep up, more final assignments were due, plans were being made and all you want to do is press the pause button but you can't, life keeps on moving whether you want it to or not. In December of my senior year I did one of the hardest things I have ever had to do: I competed for a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship. Lets just say, when I showed up the Staff Sgt told me "Cadet Rodriguez, you are the only female here today. Welcome to the Marines Corps." And that was it, I was thrown into something that wasn't 100% my comfort zone but something that was essential. This year, I learned sometimes we have to do things we aren't 100% comfortable with but that we can get amazing outcomes from.

As college deadlines approached, I learned something else. I had NO idea where I wanted to be the next four years of my life. I thought I knew, but I really had no idea. After a while of college hunting, I applied in total to 15 schools. Yes, you read that right. 15.

Anyway, I ended up choosing Penn State, not because I was settling but because after truly looking over everything I wanted in a school, this was it. And it all came with a really nice sticker price. $48,000. That's just one year. Here I am a 17-year-old girl considering getting into $48,000 of debt for a school. Now, don't get me wrong, but I am glad I had my parents guidance for this because going into nearly $50,000 of debt before the age of 18 isn't a really good idea for anyone, let alone someone who knows nothing about loans or debt. So shout out mom and dad, thanks from preventing decisions that weren't the brightest from my part.

I was conflicted. I visited Penn State with my parents and loved everything it had to offer. I mean, if my mom and dad offered for me to stay up there then and there, I would of said yes in a heartbeat. The college, the people, everything, they don't call it Happy Valley for no reason, ya know? My parents loved it and I felt this is where I belonged, the only thing stopping me was money. It isn't a cheap price to pay. And the one feeling I started to feel that I never thought I had to feel this year, disappointment.

I was disappointed in my self that maybe I didn't try hard enough in high school to get a big enough scholarship, disappointed that I may not be able to go to this school that just seemed like a dream. I had given up all hope and truly did not know what I was going to do.

My family has always been supportive of my decision to go to school, I am going to be a first generation college student, and hopefully the first physician in my family too, but, what my dad told me was, "If God opens a door somehow, there will be a way. If you're meant to be there, he will find a way." Sure enough, God always provides, and now I will instead be attending Penn State Altoona for one year and Penn State Main Campus for three years on a (1+3 Scholarship). God found a way, and he continues to provide.

So yes, my senior year had happy and sad moments. I shared prom night with my best friends, I got to run my ROTC Unit with my friend by my side, I learned lessons that I will forever use in life, and I made memories that I will never forget. For some people those sad moments are heartbreak, failing a class, losing a close friend and all that comes along with this stage of life, but I am here to tell you that it is okay and I promise life goes on.

I didn't write this to rant or preach to anyone but I wrote this because I want to show everyone that sometimes life doesn't go as planned. Sometimes Plan A isn't always going to work. You might even need a Plan B and a Plan C. Or like in my case, Plan A will work, but you won't take the same road to get there. The advice I can give to kids coming into their senior year is to be flexible, your senior year will be what you make of it. It's OK to cry. It's OK to be sad and happy and feel all these emotions. Your life is changing right in front of your eyes, and it isn't always easy. But most of all, keep your head held high. Even when things aren't going as planned, I promise hard work will always pay off. Keep that attitude and your senior year will be one you won't ever forget. Congratulations, Class of 2016! Against all odds, we made it!