As I sit here at my desk in my dorm room, I'm having a minor panic attack. I have my first college midterm ever tomorrow, two test next week, and an essay that I will have to write over the next two days. I want to go home to relax this weekend, but Hurricane Matthew is currently pounding coastlines that are close enough to affect my traveling. I'm alone, because my roommate is at her social - and I should be at mine. Really, I should be studying, but instead, I'm thinking about other things.

Today, as I write this, it is October 6th, 9:16 PM. I am a student at the University of Georgia. I am a new member of Sigma Kappa sorority. I'm on a meal plan. I live in the high rises. I hate my 8 am. I'm a college student.

Last year, on October 6th at this time, I have no idea what exactly I was doing. I was probably sitting on my bed watching Netflix. I only had to go to school from 10-2 because I had already accumulated most of my credits. All my classes at my high school were a breeze, I was joint enrolled at Georgia Southern University and did not even crack a book for my math class. I was a senior in high school.

Exactly a year ago, I don't know what I was doing... but I do know one thing.

Early Action Applications for the University of Georgia are due on October 15th. I clicked "submit" with plenty of time to spare. A year ago, at this time, I could have very well been filling out the form that led me here. A little less than a year ago, on November 20th, I got accepted.

So many people say they want to go to UGA their whole lives. This is their first choice, their lifelong dream. That's not the case with me. Last year, as I was filling out my application, I wasn't even dying to go here. My dad went here, everyone told me I had the grades, so hey, why not? In my mind, I would probably just stay in Statesboro. I mean, there's a good college there, along with all my friends and most of my family. It was my comfort zone.

That all changed when I visited UGA. I felt it inside me, the feeling of God telling me "Go."

So now, a year later, I am here. I live in a shoebox. I consume more caffeine than I ever have to make up for my sleep deprivation. The tests I take here are honestly unlike anything I have ever seen in my whole life. I've never had to study, now I sit in my room for hours at a time. I'm already ridiculously tired of dining hall food, and my laundry stays in a pile wanting to be washed - but that's something I often don't have time for. Sometimes, I want to give up.

Even though my stress is through the roof, I have to remind myself sometimes of how I got here.

This wasn't my plan. I didn't even have a plan. I would have been perfectly fine staying in my comfort zone, where I knew everyone and I could handle the homework and the tests. But something pushed me in this direction, the direction 3 hours away from everything I have ever known. Now, I feel like I am constantly trying to keep my head above water. But that's the thing: It's still technically IS above the water. I miraculously haven't died yet, after living with my mom doing pretty much everything for me for 18 years. (Even though she is unfortunately not here to find my Student ID for me every time I lose it.) I made an A on my most recent paper. An A that I had to fight for, but an A nonetheless. I've met so many people and made friendships with people that I would have never known if I had never come here.

Life is hard now. And I am just a lil (LOT) stressed. But I know one thing... it is all for a reason. When I'm in my room, staring at my English 2310 Midterm study guide, and getting anxiety over the exam that will be handed to me at 11:15 tomorrow, I just have to remember one thing. I remember that girl. The girl still in high school, the one on the campus tour. The girl that left everything she knew because she felt like this is where she was meant to be.

I don't know what's gonna happen next. Last year, I would have never predicted that I would end up here. I don't know where I'll be living, or who I'll be friends with, or what I'll be studying for or celebrating. But I know God will lead me to where he wants to go. He led me here, after all. I can't predict the future. All I can do now is trust in Him... and study.