If I had to describe myself prior to attending college, I would say that I was modest and reserved.  I did not have an outgoing personality, and did not seek the attention of large groups. I sought out friends who were loyal and valued my friendship.  They were people who matched my personality in every respect.  They were the friends who I could be myself around without any fear of judgment.  These are the people I leaned on to help me deal with my insecurities about life.    

I met the girl who would become my best friend in my sixth grade mathematics class.  She was a perfect reflection of me, and we grew together and became each other’s confidant.  We shared great memories that helped us to grow both individually and together.  We were inseparable in middle school and high school, despite the many challenges we faced during these years.  I never thought that I would lose her as a friend.  However, that changed during my senior year of high school.

Although I embraced these feeling to my core, my best friend apparently did not.  She stopped being a reflection of me, and became an individual preoccupied with impressing the “cool kids” of our grade.  I was disappointed with her transformation, and wondered why she felt the need to reject long held values just to impress others.  It left me at a low point knowing that my closest friend had discarded years of friendship for the sake of being accepted by those who she saw as “cool.”  It became clear to me that I needed a change in my life.

I saw college as a brand new start, a place where I could form new friendships, enjoy new experiences, and challenge myself like never before.  College was the place where I would become confident, independent, and break out of the shell I had been living in.  That is exactly what I did.    

I can recall a teacher of mine who inspired my college decision when I was in my tenth grade of high school. 

      “So I seem to have many sophomores and juniors in this class.  Have any of you thought about what you will be doing for college?” asked my teacher. 

      Many students stared at him with blank looks, as they had not yet given much thought to this idea.

He then continued.  “Well, soon enough this is something that all of you will have to think about.  You will have to think about if you will choose to stay home for college, or if you will go elsewhere.  But, when you make your decision, keep this one thought in your mind – your home will always be here, but that does not mean that you have to be.”

       This idea resonated with me.  I always knew that I was going to go to college, but the immediacy of the decision had not yet left its mark on me.   His words gave me a lot to think about.

      “Going away to college would be a huge change for my life,” I thought.  “My teacher was right.  My home will always be here, and will be a place I can always come back to.  But why did that mean that I should always be here?” 

       College offered me the chance to change my life completely and experience something that I had never truly considered.

Two years later, I sat in front of my computer trying, along with thousands of others, to get onto the UF website.  The entire time I was praying that when I finally got on, I would be reading a letter of acceptance to the University of Florida.  When I did get on and read the letter, the tears started pouring down my face.  My parents realized something was up and came rushing into the room.  They immediately worried that my tears were tears of sadness rather than tears of joy.    

“I got in!” I finally managed to say. 

     “You got in?!” My parents shrieked.

      I felt these tears of joy, these tears of relief.  I also felt so much happiness that I was being given the opportunity of a lifetime to attend my dream school.  

“Am I making the right decision?” I remember asking myself.  “This school is huge.  How will I make friends here? Will school be difficult? Will I be able to be away from my family?”

       Though I had these thoughts running through my mind, I quickly saw that attending this school was the greatest decision of my life.  My life has completely changed as a result of attending this university, and I cannot imagine what life would be like without it.

At college, I am following my dream of becoming an elementary school teacher.  This journey is difficult but the rewards have been boundless.  Every day, I am realizing my potential and gaining a level of confidence that never seemed possible when I was sitting in that tenth grade classroom.  I am no longer the timid and reserved person that I was before going to college.  I am now a self-reliant and self-assured young woman.  I am secure with myself and am confident with the career route that I have chosen for my future.    

I have found the greatest support system away from home by being a part of a Panhellenic sorority.  I have met the greatest friends through this organization.  I thought that I knew what a friend was prior to college, but I did not truly know what a good friend was until I came to this school.  My friends here have lifted my spirits during the hardest of times, and have brought me happiness during the best of times.  They go out of their ways to be my good friends, and do not pass me aside to impress other people.  I know that these friends will be a part of my life forever.

Not only have I made some amazing friends, but I have grown closer with the members of my family.  Being away at school has made me appreciate my parents and sister more than I ever had before.  It has made me value the times that we do share over school breaks, and makes me want to spend as much quality time with them as possible.  Being away from them has been very difficult, but I have benefitted from this distance by becoming independent and self-reliant.    

College has taught me a lot, not just as a student, but as a young woman.  College has challenged me in so many ways.  At times, it has left me feeling vulnerable and unsure of myself.  But more often than not, it has left me feeling proud and accomplished.  My entire college experience has given me so much more than I ever could have ever imagined as a high school student back home.  It has given me remarkable confidence, amazing friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.    

I am excited to see what the future holds for me as I continue in college and embark on my career.  Although the future may be unknown, there is one thing I do know for certain – my life has been forever changed because of my time here at the University of Florida.