As hard as it may seem, if you're unhappy, unhealthy, or unsuccessful at your school, you may want to consider transferring to a different institution. Take it from someone who had a rocky freshman year, to say the least. While you may have worked your ass off to get into your dream school, it does not mean you will absolutely love it. There are pros and cons to each one, and it can be hard to know exactly what will be right for you.

In college, your health, happiness, and success are three of the most important goals you should have at any given moment. Granted, If one of these key components becomes imbalanced, problems tend to arise. It happens to every freshman; this major life change is never an easy transition, and no matter how prepared you think you are for the so-called "best four years of your life," you are wrong.

I experienced this difficult transition firsthand. To be brutally honest, I was hesitant to share my story, but I've realized how important it is to spread awareness on simple issues that a majority of students deal with on a daily basis. This past year has been extremely hard, yet I somehow came out on the other side stronger than I ever thought possible. And the good news is, if you're not loving school, you can do it, too.

I first noticed I was unhappy about a month into school. I lived in a single dorm room, and wasn't getting the socialization that I truly needed. My mind constantly was elsewhere; living in the "exciting" moments of freshman year was something I never felt I could do at the time. The mere size of my classes and the campus itself was overwhelming. and I felt intimidated by even the thought of asking a question in lecture or going to a professors' office hours. Sure, I met a lot of amazing people, and to this day am forever grateful for each and every person who helped me through it. I found myself repeatedly asking for advice and guidance from those close to me, and many of them said this very simple statement: Relax, and give it time.

So, I did. It was not easy, but I made it through an entire year at a place where I felt I didn't belong and a place that I could never call "my home away from home." The people closest to me coached me through the craziness of my eighteenth year, and now, I am going to coach you, whoever you are reading this: Relax, and give it time. Give your school at least a full semester, or better yet, a full year on campus. You need to experience the four seasons, and get a true sense of why you are feeling that way.

In the spring semester, if things haven't improved, and you've given it 150%, then I would consult with an adviser or someone close to you about how to go about starting the transfer application process. I know this sounds daunting; trust me, I had never felt more scared or anxious in my life. The thought of starting somewhere completely new was terrifying. Somewhere deep inside my soul, I knew I had to do it, I had to make things better.

After finally completing the Common App for a second time in my life (and no, I didn't think I would ever have to go through this dreadful process ever again), I felt a sense of relief, and also a sense of severe impatience. I just wanted to know already. I wanted to know what my final options would be. I wanted to get out.

Decisions started rolling in, and I was more than surprised to see I was accepted to many of my top choices. I went back and toured my top two, and ended up choosing a school in my home state, which provided me sense of security. Although I had always said that I would never go to school in Rhode Island, I did. And it has been the best decision of my life.

I couldn't be happier than I am today. From my first class at my new school, I felt reassured that I had made the right decision. I could now call this place home, something I wanted for a very, very long time. Everything began to fall into place, and now, here I am, two months into the semester, feeling happy, healthy, and successful. What I really want my readers to know is that you are not alone. It's commonly known that students transfer; lots of people do it. It's okay, and it's normal. It will be hard at times, and stressful, and you might even feel like a failure for not being happy where you are. But once you make the change (if you so choose), you will come out on the other side stronger than you ever thought possible.

Photo taken by me, on my iPhone, of a wooden quote block.