I remember dreaming of decorating my dorm when I was little and it was back to school season in Target. All the dorm decorations would be up and the cool gadgets that made your room pretty was admired from my young, needy eyes. College seemed, as it was then, so far away. It was for the big kids who knew what they wanted to do in life. It was for the fortunate who could afford to go and get a good education. I wanted it so bad.

I grew up in a small town barely on the map in Delaware. One of those towns everybody knows everybody and you got the scoop of the week every Sunday at church. I didn’t have the ability to think about my post high school diploma education when I had more of a priority to make sure I ate that night.

After starting my life over in Massachusetts, I began to rekindle with my want to thrive. I spent my whole life prior to that being so selfless and taking care of people who needed it, but forgot about who I was and want I wanted. I knew there was nothing in the world that was more important than my success and ability to make something out of myself. I fought for it in high school, I was never the best test taker or highest in the class, but that says nothing about my devotion in my studies.

My rock bottom hit during my junior year. Only one person besides myself knew. She was a teacher at the school who I always admired, always knew subconsciously that she cared so deeply about everyone. I saw a lot of who I want to be in her. I had never remembered myself feeling so terrible about life and who I was other than that year. I keep positive attitudes about life no matter the circumstance. If anyone can understand the beauty that every day holds, it is me. Meanwhile while I was feeling beaten down and torn apart from both home, school and everything in my past I never let be emotionally expressed, one person was there to listen to me and guide me in the path I wanted to be in. She has so much to do with who I am today and why I chose to break out of my comfort zone and be able to love who I am.

Graduating high school meant a new beginning in my book, I am used to those it seems. I have become so good at adapting to new environments that were once unknown, but I knew this one was a chapter that I was creating by myself and for myself. I have never not appreciated what has been given to me, I was given a second chance at life with my family and was raised in a good home. But even then it was different and unconventional. Starting college meant to me finally being able to make life how I see it and not have to trail behind the life of someone else, hoping I am not a burden. I see life so vividly, and I see it as the best opportunity I have ever been given. High school years served as a period of me finding what I recognized as important and where I wanted to be in the future. College is now letting me express myself and show the world what I have to offer. I am no longer ever afraid to speak out about something important to me, I know to advocate for what I believe in. Even in my first semester I can say with solid feet on the ground I have never been so happy. I have never felt so free and able to be who I am. Going to college gave me the clearest vision of my future and let me connect with myself. I spend time alone and listen to my own thoughts and decide my own decisions. I am my own person finally. I do not know where I would be if I didn’t have the opportunity to let loose and get out on my own, even if I am still surrounded by a whole campus of students.

Decorating my dorm room was not the highlight of my life, but going to college was. I advise any Millennial

reading this to continue your studies, take the leap of faith. College teaches you more than just what is within your major. Allow yourself to be found in high school, get in touch with your inner self and your beliefs. Work hard and walk down the aisle to get your diploma with your head high. Use that piece of paper as an excuse to be great. Nobody can tell you you can’t be successful, even if you can’t realize that now, it is true. I couldn’t comprehend it until I walked out of West Springfield High School for the last time. Now I am at my dream destination and all it took was me saying I Can.