My Rollercoaster College Journey

lol here it goes

My college Journey

By this time, many of my friends have already graduated college, got their degrees, found jobs, and so on. Me on the other hand…I had a different take on college so you could say. I graduated high school, had committed to Northern Arizona University (Go Jacks!) and everything was going as planned. I was prepared to become a nurse, apply to the nursing program and everything go smoothly. But boy oh boy was I wrong. First little background, my high school boyfriend at the time had gone to NAU, my little naive 18 year old self did not really allow myself to look at other options for colleges. That was problem number 1. Problem number 2 was that I treated college like high school. Yes, I went to a private high school that was suppose to prepare you for college and what not. But nope it did not. Suddenly, I found myself not being able to wake up for 8am class (when I had been getting up at 6:30am for the past 4 years), taking naps every single day (sometimes twice a day), and then came the procrastination that worked oh so well throughout high school. “JK we got ya” should have been taped to my forehead all year long.

Time went on I joined a sorority, met some amazing awesome life friends, I discovered the frat party scene that I took advantage of more than I should have. I thought everything was going great. Little did I know that I was slowly digging a deeper hole into myself that I wasn't sure I could crawl out of.

Emotionally, I looked fine on the surface. On the inside, I struggled daily with being able to keep up with classes. I cried all the time because I was afraid of the embarrassment of changing my major to something easier, because I didn’t want to be “that girl”. On top of that that my high school boyfriend of mine broke it off early on into my time in college. But I didn’t want to be “that girl” that went to a school because of her boyfriend…but I was. I didn’t want to be “that girl” that went home and back to a community college…but I was. I didn’t want to be that girl that would still have 2 1/2 years of school left while everyone else has graduated…but I AM.

Whats wrong with being “that girl”. The girl who was 18 years old still trying to figure it all out. The girl that had gone away to college,

moved away from home for the first time, just to realize it wasn't what she had anticipated. Isn’t that what growing up is all about anyway, trying new things and figuring it out along the way? Whats wrong with being the girl who changes her major 3 times, I was only 19, was I suppose to decide what I wanted to do for the rest of my life? I still don't know sometimes. What was so wrong that being the girl that didn’t graduate on time. The thought of that haunted me every time someone asked me about college. Whats so wrong with “that girl”. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

One of my absolute best friends was “that girl”. Had gone to San Francisco State moved home due to some medical issues. Still doesn't have a major, still in community college. I see it in her too that were both like.. well Sh**, we should be graduating this year. But who cares. She's taking classes, figuring out herself, what she loves, what she's passionate about. She's the most passionate person I know she could do any job she sets her mind too. Were both the complete opposite of what society says college should look like. AND THATS AMAZING.

After I came home from college and changed my major to education…I volunteered in a Kindergarten classroom for a year, loved it. But still had this passion to want to purse nursing. Yes, I failed my second year of college, felt like I had wasted my first, and failed again my third year. I would have never told anyone that, until now. Now my fourth year in I’ve finally gotten my sh** together.

Now that Im 21 and think I am an adult or whatever. Ive come to terms with my college

journey. I am now in an amazing nursing program, yes I switched back to my original plan. Yes I wont graduate on time, but I know that I will graduate with a degree in something that Ive worked hard to earn, passionate about, and found myself along the way. I was surrounded by all the ideas that this is how it has to be. You cant change your major, you cant get behind, you have to graduate in 4 years. YOU DONT. The only thing that you have to do is do what is best for you. Because at the end of the day your going to be the one that matters. Your going to be the one with the degree, not your parents, friends, or counselors telling you what to do. YOU, look for something your passionate about. its ok to WAIT.

Put the textbook down, give the pen a rest, close the Quizlet, and leave the library. You will get through it. Wether it be in 4 years or 10 years, at your own pace, at your own time, it will happen. Make time for you, stop stressing over those sleepless nights. If you fail a test, brush it off, not the end of the world, look at what you have to do to prepare for next time. If you hangout with my friend Jose Cuervo too much one night, take the next day to get everything in order. Were still kids, and yes we are getting more and more responsibility, and have this hanging shadow of a degree over our heads. But take a step back, take a deep breath, your going to get through it and become the best at whatever you chose to do with this incredible life.