Well, here you are. You finally made it to your senior year of high school. The "best four years of your life" are coming to a close. At this point, everyone feels a bit differently about these last 180(ish) days- some can't wait to get their diploma and get out of that hellish building where you spent the past three years, while others are finding it hard to believe that the time has come to choose a college and begin their next chapter in life. I know that I found myself somewhere in the middle; I had made so many fantastic memories in high school that shaped me as a person, but I also had experienced some moments that I would rather leave behind. No matter where you lie on that spectrum, all of the responsibilities which you are bombarded with during senior year can prove to be pretty darn overwhelming. You've got college applications to fill out, SAT/ACT scores you need to bring up to par, and too many scholarship applications to count tacked onto your normal high school courseload and extracurriculars, not to mention trying to carry on with a normal social life... yeah, it really is maddening how many things you are expected to accomplish.

But hey, if I (along with many others) survived that mess, so can you.

Now this is the part where I tell you how I wound up at the University of Delaware, sitting in Morris Library writing this article to all you high schoolers who are too scared to admit you have no idea where you will be next fall. It's a doozy, but it goes to show that being unsure is okay, and things have a funny way of working themselves out.

Homecoming week had just wrapped up at my high school, and it was now time for me to get my life together and submit some college applications. The idea of having to apply and potentially get rejected from colleges frightened me, but there came a time when I got over myself and started getting things done. I, however, wound up going a little nuts and applied to thirteen colleges. Yes. You read that correctly. Thirteen colleges. Not quite sure what I was thinking, but by the time February rolled around, I found myself accepted to all thirteen schools (side note: I had only applied to UD as a 'safety school' ... just in case I didn't get accepted to the other twelve I guess). So here I was with quite the decision to make.

The first college I ever toured was Loyola Univeristy Maryland, and I immediately fell in love with every single aspect of that place. I loved the campus, the location, the people I met- I felt like I belonged there. While I liked all the other colleges, I loved Loyola. So, after discovering that I had been awarded a very generous financial aid package, I committed to Loyola and became a greyhound. I attended orientation, bought my family Loyola gear to wear, I found a roommate, and set up my classes. Everything was looking good and I was so excited to be on campus that fall.

Now we jump to late July when the whole college situation did a barrel roll and got all messy. Loyola had revised my financial aid package and revoked most of the money they had originally awarded me. I had done nothing to cause this, so when I got the news that I was no longer going to be able to afford the college I planned on going to, I was baffled. I was heartbroken. I was a lot of emotions that I can't entirely describe. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, really. I didn't want to be up to my ears in debt coming out of college, but I did not want to go anywhere else but Loyola. My heart was set on that school from the moment I first stepped onto the campus.

About a week passed, and after tons of fights with my parents and long conversations with my closest friends, I made the decision to go to the University of Delaware (they had readmitted me into their systems, all I had to do was pay the enrollment deposit). It was one of the most difficult decisions I ever made, but I had to do what was best for my future. While I did not want to go to UD, I kept an open mind and a positive attitude about the overall situation.

Regardless of my late enrollment, I was able to join UD's marching band, and after the entire week of band camp, I knew I had found my home here. Everyone was so supportive and welcoming- it was like having a second family. I also found that I wanted to enrich my passion for music and one day share it with others, and wound up being able to audition into the Music Education program at UD within the first two weeks of school. Everything was starting to play out even though it seemed like everything was falling apart a month before.

So now here I am. At this time last year, I was applying to thirteen different schools as a Communications major, and I didn't even wind up at my dream school... and I am doing amazing. I love my school (even on the rainy days), I love this campus (except for that train that seems to always make me two minutes late), and I love my major (even though piano class drives me crazy). If I hadn't gone to UD, I wouldn't be a music major, wouldn't be in marching band, and wouldn't have met so many incredible people. So, to all of you high schoolers who are totally confused about what life is going to be like a year from now: roll with the punches, remember that everything happens for a reason, and let the chips fall where they may. In other words, just go with the flow and things will eventually play out. You might experience a rough patch (or two, or three... maybe even four or five), but I can guarantee things wind up being okay. Keep a positive attitude always; you will find your place, you will find your people, and, eventually, you will find yourself.

Happy college searching, and have an amazing senior year!