What if I never decided to go to college? What if I decided to stay in Europe and take a year off and travel the rest of the world. My life would be drastically different. I might have joined the military, and follow in my father’s footsteps. I would not be two months out from graduation.

If I never went to college I would have never met some of the best people I have met. Some of the friends I met didn’t stay, but that doesn’t mean they didn't helped shaped me. They helped me become who I am, and taught me things that every freshman in college needs to learn. Everyone is always taught that the friends that you meet in college will be your ‘forever’ friends, and that is true. There are some people that I met that I am truly thankful for. They have been there for me at times when I truly needed it, and I wouldn’t take that for granted. If I never went to college, I never would have met them.

If I never went to college, I wouldn’t have had the experiences that I did. I had Washington D.C. in my backyard for almost four years and some of my best memories are in the city. I would have never went to a Capitals game and if that never happened I wouldn’t be a die hard fan as I am now. I wouldn’t have been able to be a student athlete and go through a season with some of the most hard working girls, and made some friendships along the way.

If I never went to college I would have never been able to talk about my memories that I have. I have seen and done things that have shaped my life. To think about my life if I didn't go to college is scary. I could have been still living at home with my parents, and working a retail job that I thought was substantial. Or, I could have been in the military, serving this country, and on a world-wind adventure. I could be a totally different person if I choose a different route.

But I went to college. I survived the 'best' four years of my life. And those years were some of the best. I had ups and some downs but choosing to go to college was the best decision.