I am three weeks into the stress and exhaustion that comes with attending a state university. I spent my freshman and sophomore years of college at a community college in my hometown while living in my childhood home. I did’t have to worry about rent, student loans or buying groceries.I think now that this was the simplest my life will ever be. Life was good, and life was easy.
I knew from the beginning that I would transfer to a four-year university after completing my general classes. I had a master plan to complete two years at a community college, transfer to the local university, then apply to a veterinary school. My path was simple, easy and well thought out.
My experience in community college was positive overall and my life was relatively stress free compared to now. I started college with a full scholarship that covered tuition, books and fees. I didn’t have to take out any student loans and I was able to spend the money I made through my part-time job on anything I wanted. I was in the honors program and my classes were as easy as they will ever be. I spent some of my time studying for tests and reading textbooks, but I had plenty of time to pursue hobbies and hang out with friends and family.
I spent three semesters planning to transfer to the university fifteen minutes away from my parents’ house. I met my husband before my third semester and we planned to get married after we both graduated. I knew exactly what I wanted and everything was planned out perfectly.
At the beginning of my fourth semester, my fiancé suggested that I apply to Colorado State University as a transfer student. He knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine there and that I would have a better chance of being accepted as a CSU graduate. We talked about it for about a month before finally deciding we would both apply. If we were both accepted, we would get married two years ahead of schedule and move from Texas to Colorado.
As luck would have it, we both got in. We got married four months later and left for Colorado. I’m sure I’ll write about the chaotic months between February and August sometime, but that will come later.
As I mentioned, I am three weeks into the semester and it has been a stressful three weeks. I feel like my two years in community college did nothing to prepare me for my junior year at a university. The workload is much greater than I could have even imagined, the hours of homework are overwhelming and the material is much harder to digest. I am still in an honors program and I am still receiving scholarships, but the cost of tuition is much greater than all the scholarships and financial aid I qualify for. I am already facing the burden of student debt and it is only my first semester.
I am grateful for my community college start because it allowed me to start with a high GPA and no debt, but I wish I was better prepared for where I am now. I know the decision to transfer to CSU will benefit me in the long run because I am receiving a better education than I would in my hometown, and I have more opportunities here. I am excited to write about the positive and negative experiences I have already had and the new ones to come. Hopefully things will calm down more as I start Figuring Things Out.
Figuring Things Out 