COAST TO COAST

By Aubrie Edmond

Like many kids, my only criteria for picking a college was “far away.” At seventeen years old, I had to make a decision that would shape the next four years of my life. Unfortunately for me, my seventeen year old self was stubborn and unyielding. I had a very clear vision in mind: I would move to the East Coast or Europe and study architecture or journalism. I refused to apply to any schools in my home state of Texas, or any schools on the West Coast. Despite much pleading from my mother, I refused to budge. After a long and grueling process of applications, rejections, and acceptances, I decided to go to Northeastern University in Boston. At first I was excited, but excitement soon turned to fear; everyone I knew was either moving to the West Coast or staying in Texas. It suddenly struck me that I would be alone, and that “starting over” actually meant rebuilding my life from the ground up. After a long summer at home, I realized how much everyone I knew meant to me, and the idea of leaving hung over me like a dark cloud. Before I even started, I made the decision I was going to transfer. I made few attempts to socialize or get involved, and I refused to even consider staying. When the time came to submit my transfer applications, I exclusively applied to schools on the West Coast. I wanted to be closer to the Story continues on p6