For those who know me, you know that I recently transferred to Stony Brook University. Prior to coming here, I was away at school in a dorm over 800 miles away from home. Now, don't get me wrong, living in a dorm had both ups and downs, as does commuting, but I absolutely feel that I made the decision that was best for me.

People ask me all the time why I chose to transfer, and if I like commuting, and there's a few answers to these questions.

There are people who will tell you that you just have to live in a dorm, otherwise you won't be getting the true "college experience". But, what really is the "college experience?" I say that it's whatever you want it to be.

By the time I graduated high school, literally all I could think about was college. I was so excited to have a fresh start, a new beginning. This is what all highschoolers look forward to, right?

I had everything planned out, I knew where I wanted to go, what I wanted to study, and I just couldn't wait to move in.

At first, there was a buzz. I was in a completely new place, all on my own. It was overwhelming, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. Everyone was fighting to make friends and find their place in this new world, and it was all very hectic.

I am not always one to put myself out there and start a conversation with a random person, so you can imagine this was difficult for me. I did make friends, and it was good for a while. But, I never really felt like I fit.

Something was missing. I was looking around me, and all of my friends at other schools seemed to be having the time of their life. That just was not what I was feeling.

So, I made the decision to transfer back home and commute.

I wanted my house, my bed, my car, my job, my friends, my family. I wanted to go back to my life.

Don't get me wrong, commuting can be quite annoying at times, but I am 100 percent happy with my decision. I have school, and I have my life. Separately.

Regardless of my decision to transfer, I will never regret going away to school. Rather than just immediately commuting and wondering what I was missing out on, I got to see what living at a college was like and decide that it was not for me.

It's not for everyone, and that's okay.