I am 100% sure that everyone in their life has been asked the question of "Why did you choose the University you are currently at?" (Or previously were at for those of you who are graduates). The response you give sometimes flies right out of your mouth, as if it has a mind of its own.

Other times you sit and think before you answer the question:

1) Should I give them the answer they want to hear?

2) What if they judge me because the decision I made was not my choice and was influenced by someone else?

3) Should I tell them the truth or lie?

4) Do I answer as if my heart were able to speak?

The simple question can sometimes be difficult for someone to answer. However, for me, the response is endless. The list of reasons why I love studying at Kettering University could go on forever. Without bring up our Co-Op program in my list, which is a given reason to love going to this school, here are my Top 5 reasons aside from that.

1) The Leadership Skills and Resources I gain that are essentials for me as a student developing her career in Industrial Engineering

Kettering University is a school that tests your limits, pushes you to do your best, provides leadership skills and resources that will help you succeed in your classes, career and everyday life. Everyone likes a challenge in order to gain the confidence to overcome it- being at a school that challenges you constantly is something I am thankful for everyday. People don't always understand this concept. They sometimes take the easier route in life and want to do so in order to have more fun (for example). For me, I want to be pushed while I am young in order to have fun in the years down the road when I am building my own family. I want to be able to support them in anyway possible and be a role model to them. Thinking about the past 20 years in my life, I would not be where I am today if it were not for my family and friends you are constantly supporting me- through the good times and especially in the dark times. Kettering University pushes me past textbook material and drills real world issues in classes, in order to see how I can find a solution and what my brain may be capable of discovering- sometimes things I had never thought were possible.

I come from a family that has generations of successful men and women in it and I plan to continue to keep this growing in our family.

My grandma, who is the strongest person I know and I strive to be a rock for others like she is. She is always thinking of others before she thinks of herself and I am more than proud to call her a best friend and grandma. Her Sister, who is always lifting spirits around us and making us laugh:

To the mothers in our family... the daughters you have brought into this world want to forever thank you for all that you have done for us. You have taught us to always chase after our dreams no matter how crazy they may seem. Because of the strong bonds you have with each other, the generations below you will forever be close and bonded together as well:

However, we could not have done it all without the male warriors we have in our family who serve as role models to us:

My Grandpa, Joseph, who is looking down on us and forever in our hearts:

My Dad, Jaroslaw, who is an engineer himself and always pushed me to do my best in everything I do because he knew I could one day achieve everything I set my mind too:

My brother, Matt, who has been my best friend since the day one and the person who gives the best advice when times get hard. My two beautiful cousins, who never fail to put a smile on my face:

My uncle, Jarek, who is always there to listen and give the best support that someone could ask for:

My uncle, Roman, who will forever be remember as a strong working father who loved his family dearly and had a kind heart to everyone:

My cousin's father, Mike, who helped bring these two wonderful boys into our family and becoming a part of it. He is such an understanding person and it brings joy to me knowing there is a third on his way:

The generation of sons, brothers and cousins we have in our family who will forever follow the footsteps of their role model and always make them proud:

Bogdan, Paul, and Mike (not pictured below) your strength for others is always there, especially when someone needs it the most, thank you.

2) Being a Member of Compass Crew

Compass Crew is our team of students and faculty that help ease the transition of students who are coming from high school and entering an intense college that will test their abilities. We provide the opportunity for students to take part in a leadership camp prior to orientation, for students to make close friendships even before setting foot on campus. The orientation program as a whole helps student have fun, meet friends- potentially ones they have classes with- and be able to start classes with confidence that they know at least one person, if not more.

3) Sports

We get the opportunity to play inter mural sports against each other. There are many benefits of getting to have a gym and facility that one can escape in when they are stressed out or simply want to do something fun on their down time. For women in sororities, we have Panhel volleyball- where the members of each sorority get placed on a mixed team where they can get the chance to make new friends outside their sorority and compete against their opponent. If you are in a fraternity the competition continues as members can be on mixed teams as well as teams through their organizations. The list of sports Kettering offers is pretty long for a school that does not have a sports team. Lastly, if you love watching sports, recording games and taking pictures like me, you can get a job with the Rec Center and get paid for doing what you love!

4) My Support System

The faculty, friends, sisters and alumnae you meet, truly hold great relationships with you if you are willing to do the same.

Having a home away from home with all my sisters is such blessing:

Alumna, big sister and a great friend, Ashley who is always a phone call away:

Alumna, Kaila, and friend Denis, who know how to embrace exactly who you were set out to be in this world, nothing matter what struggles you face:

Caleb, for always being my light in the darkest of times:

The people you meet through the journeys you choose to take through Kettering (Members of Alpha Sigma Alpha on the 2016 Service Immersion Trip to Hawaii):

Our mentors on the Service Immersion Trip:

My best friends from high school who are always there for me and have kept our friendship strong even after being at different colleges or states for almost three years now, here's also to the neighbors who became a part of the Krupa Family (entire McCafferty, Duerr and Perri Family not pictured below):

I have also had some of the best professors thus far and could not thank them enough for everything they have helped me with. I had one particular professor who hit home for me because he spoke Polish with me. This made me think of all the times I have traveled to Poland with my family in order to see our family that lives there.

It made me think of the stories my parents would tell me of Poland and how hard the times were back then. It especially made me think of how some of my family came to United States ages 16-20+ without knowing a single word in English and made a living for themselves. Looking at them now and how I am able to be at a school like this, with their complete support financially, makes me feel like one of the luckiest girls alive. My family is very important because we are all over the world and meet people every step of the way.

Here are members from my dad's side of the family, including my grandpa, my cousin and her baby boy:

My cousin's partner in life who brought Max into our lives and is always a thrill to watch on TV.

My dad's sister, my aunt, who never fails to take our family on an adventure we will never forget. Here is also a thank you to my god father and aunt's partner in life for always supporting me in everything I do, even being miles apart from each other (not pictured below):

My support system goes beyond the photos in this article and you know who you are <3

5) Diversity

Kettering University is an extremely diverse community. We have students who are traveling across the globe to get the education that our STEM program offers. This reminds me a lot of my high school, Avondale, because we too were a very diverse school. This also brings back the memories from my travels across the globe and the diverse places I have been too. Through all the diversity one experiences in everyday interactions, you end up learning a lot from that.

For example, you can learn a lot about someone's:

Religion

Language

Culture / Practices

Values, Morals, Ethics

Different foods they eat and why

How they dress and what that might symbolize

Their view on others around them

What they are most grateful for in life

Where they stand financially (are they paying for everything independently or do they have support from their family)

This list is endless. However, always surrounding yourself in a diverse community has many benefits. You can gain confidence to be yourself, without the fear of judgement. You can gain friendships with people across the globe and in turn have someone to write letters to when you cannot see them often. In addition to that, you have someone you can travel to and stay with in the future. You gain a huge perspective on someone's life in relation to your own. For me, growing up in a diverse high school, traveling the world and currently studying at Kettering University- I have learned that no matter where I may be, I will always stay true to who I am. When you are truly yourself around others, they will love you for exactly that; your true self.

Picking the school you want your future career to be built at is an extremely difficult decision to make in high school and at such a young age. However, the most important thing you can do for yourself, regardless of anyone else's view and opinions on your choice, is to simply follow your heart. Some people argue that the destination is the best part about life. For me, the journey is most important. The people I meet, the friendships I create, the family that supports me every step of the way, the places I go- these are all things I can treasure forever, these are also the most important things that are helping me reach my destination in the future and I could not do this without them.

If you got to this point in my article, I want to thank you for reading until the very end. If you a family member, thank you for always being there for me and supporting me every step of the way. If you are a friend of mine, you are always in my thoughts no matter what up or down we went through. If you are a friend of mine who lives across the globe, know that I am always thinking of you no matter how far you are and that we will see each other again. If you are a complete stranger reading this article, I hope you enjoyed this article and to always remember the important and sometimes simple things you need in order to live a happy lifestyle.