Risk. Scary, motivating, a test, progressing, change...
Growing up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado my entire life, I applied to colleges around the country not knowing my decision if I did get into my schools of choice. Would I stay in state with my family and what I knew and loved? I love Colorado. Every season, there is beauty and something to do. Summers were spent hiking to the top of peaks and winters would be spent zooming down those same peaks on skis.
I hated the University of Colorado as it was huge and not what I wanted. I had stayed on campus over the summer as part of a pre-collegiate program but just didn't feel like it was the place for me.
I got my acceptance from Missouri in the mail. The top journalism school had just accepted me into their program. I had no idea how my parents felt about me going out of state, even though they would not help me pay for my education. I did not even know I felt. I spent weeks reflecting and although took a huge risk without visiting Mizzou, I was going to pack my bags from a major city to a rural farm setting. Well Columbia is not quite rural but it certainly was not the big city life I knew. Little did I know, my decision would prove worthy and even favorable.
My aunt and I packed up her car and off we drove me to college Fall of 2009. I was a freshman. Not sure what to expect and I was ready to explore a new place.
I arrived and stayed in the cheapest and oldest dorm that Missouri had. What was neat about that dorm was I would be the last person to stay in it. They were going to tear it down after this year. As a result, we were able to paint and do anything we wanted to at that old dorm.
Just as I got settled down, I met Daniel, my soul mate. While I didn't expect to be married in college, I just went with the flow of the situation. We grew together for the first year and after deep discussion we decided it was right to go ahead and marry.
I learned that Missouri allowed me to gain in-state tuition and residency if I paid for the first year out-of-state. That first year was a pinch but surprisingly was just as expensive as CU Boulder in-state. I was not losing money by making my decision. In the end, I actually saved more once I gained in-state tuition. I was going to a better school for my degree and it was a great value.
I also knew my risk had a pricey tuition but other than that did not come with much cost. I knew if I hated the experience, it was a transfer to another university and it would all be okay. I weighed this option in choosing Missouri. And a once in a lifetime chance to graduate from the leading journalism school was too much to turn down, even if I moved farther East than any of my family ever has. I learned risks were not that bad.
I went to all my classes and had my first nights on the town. The small town life was different and I miss city life but I still love the experience. And I loved my classes and professors and being a Tiger! I am graduating a semester early and cannot see what risk moving to San Diego, California may provide me, as that is where my husband will be stationed in the navy. Who knows, I will become the next TV Star reporting the news everyday.
I am thankful for my grandpa who actually made this college dream possible by helping pay for tuition. He helped me along with student aid which made this all possible. Before him, I had applied to scholarships upon scholarships, while although good, was competitive and after hours of time, I may only receive one. My parents screwed me over until Daniel as they made too much money to qualify for federal aid and did not help pay for school, but they still claimed me on those taxes. In the end, marriage proved beneficial in this aspect also.
And it's all because I took a risk. One that proved worthy.
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