I was not going to a state school. I had my sights set much higher than that, or at least what I thought was much higher than that. I wanted somewhere that would make me sound important as I walked across the stage at graduation. Somewhere in a big city, so different than where I'd grown up. I wanted something with prestige and honor. I thought I had to go far away to get that.
My senior year I applied for early admission to Seattle University, University of San Francisco and a couple others. I loved the prestige and I loved the idea. I got accepted. There was one thing I forgot to think about, though, when I was applying to colleges. That one thing was cost.
The reality check came with my acceptance letters around Christmas. Even with financial aid I couldn't afford to go to a private Jesuit school like I so desperately wanted. So in my mind, at that time, I settled. I was going to a community college. Which in my mind, on the spectrum of honor and prestige, was below a state school. In the chaos of trying to apply early to my choice schools, I forgot that I had applied to Washington State.
My acceptance letter came at the end of February. It came to my high school and it was delivered to me in class. I was in a library computer lab with the rest of the senior class. Honestly, it felt like divine intervention. I publicly cried. It was my lifeline, my one redeeming quality. I ran to tell my mom, who fortunately for me was our high school librarian and a mere foot away.
My first campus visit was scheduled for that weekend. We drove to Pullman and back in one day; a solid 500 miles. That visit quickly became the best day of my life. The second I stepped on campus, I knew. I was no longer in love with the idea of going to college; I was in love with the actual college. Pullman was a step up in terms of size in comparison to my hometown. It was perfect. I didn't want to leave. I had gotten to a point where it didn't matter what anyone else thought about me coming here. It didn't matter to me anymore. I was in love with Washington State University and I was going there.
There is something about being a Coug. Everyone says it, but it's true. Until you've been one, you just don't know. It took me a campus tour and a whole lot of faith to come here to WSU. It took my first football game, my freshman roommate, meeting my best friends and getting involved enough to stay. I thought honor and prestige could only be found in small, private schools. Coming here taught me that wasn't even a little bit true. And, at least for now, Washington State is so much more than just my school. It's my home.
