As college decisions begin to roll out and students prepare for graduation, I want to set a reminder for all those who didn’t get into their dream school or those who are feeling conflicted about college in general: college is not the be-all and end-all of life, in fact it is just the beginning. As someone who transferred from three different schools in three semesters, I can confidently tell you it’s okay, if not normal to have a plan and end up changing your mind.

I remember my senior year of high school, I was waitlisted and eventually rejected from my dream school, Texas A&M. I was devastated, but knew I wanted to go to college, so I reluctantly committed to a small private college in Dallas. I tried to keep an open mind about the situation, but it never felt right. As the Fall semester began, I started to feel so unfulfilled, there was this pit in my stomach that wouldn’t go away no matter how much I ignored it. I remember sitting in class searching “how to transfer colleges” or “colleges in Dallas Texas” hoping for a way out. In my aimless search, I stumbled across the Telecommunications degree program here at Texas A&M. As a Business Marketing major, at the time, I thought that was too far out of my range but the more I read about it and the available classes, the more I fell in love with it. Come October, I had gone to College Station at least three times that month for meetings and even attended the Auburn game, which we won. At this point, I kept the whole transferring schools plan to myself, but it wasn’t until I drove back to school from fall break and broke down crying. I realized how much I didn’t want to be at this school and that I had to make this plan a reality.

I remember shaking because I was so nervous as I called my parents, and told them my plan to transfer, a 5-page plan to be exact. I knew despite everything I had worked so hard for, this was the right choice for me. I spent over 20 hours in driving time, meetings, and researching how to transfer. By the time December rolled around, I had a solid plan. I would move down to College Station, attend Blinn College for the Spring semester, and then apply to Texas A&M under Telecommunications. After months of preparation and countless hours spent on my application, I heard back on St. Patrick’s Day, I opened my portal and there it was “ACCEPTED” in bold letters. I started classes at A&M in the Fall of 2022 and am now in my second semester here at Texas A&M. I truly love it more than I ever could have imagined.

Since transferring, I have joined SLAM, an on-campus organization, joined the intramural team, and found an on-campus job. I have fallen in love with the campus, classes, and student body here at Texas A&M, and wholeheartedly believe that every student should be able to feel that way about where they are attending school.

To those of you who changed your mind or are unsure of your path, you don’t need to have it all figured out right now. I remember feeling so guilty because I was the only one in my family and of my friends who transferred schools, but the truth is you have to trust your gut and do what is best for you. Your path might look like a zig-zag while others might look like a straight line, but it doesn’t mean your path is wrong. College is about finding what is right for you. When I look back, I have zero regrets about the path I took. My college path was far from normal and for the longest time I felt this guilt like I needed to stay where I started like everyone else, but the truth is if I had stayed I know I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things I have done today. It was a long painstaking process, but I can confidently say it was worth every moment, and I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant I could be where I am now.

To all those who are going through the college process here are some things I wish I knew earlier: