The best decision yet

For all of my fellow peers who are leaving here after four, and in some cases, five years of college life in Bloomington -- I'm jealous. When I spoke in front of the Indiana Daily Student's staff last Friday, I said the same thing -- and it's the truth. I came to IU in the middle of my sophomore year from a small university in the middle of Indianapolis -- and I was never more scared in my life.\nI left a comfortable, small campus where I had amassed a great group of friends (the main reason I stuck around one more semester in the first place). I had been on the rowing team, manager of College Mentor for Kids, and run for student government, all the while developing really close relationships with the professors in the journalism school. But, as much as I tried to omit it, I knew it wasn't the place for me. I remember going home on the weekends when I couldn't bear it anymore; I remember crying on Sunday nights because I didn't want to go back. I couldn't figure it out: I wasn't home-sick, but I just wanted to be anywhere that wasn't there. I never felt so alone and lost, and as a result, took it out on those that meant the most to me -- and for that I will never have more regret. \nAs I began to plot out my next move, I had IU in the back of my head, but dismissed the notion as I did in high school -- I wanted to be different and go somewhere that the rest of my high school hadn't invaded in triple-digit numbers. I finally realized that shouldn't stop me and I applied -- and got in. I will never forget that day, getting a big packet with an IU label on it made me happier than any day in the last 18 months. I knew then, at the precise moment, that I made the right choice.\nLooking back at the last 30 months at IU, I don't regret any of the decisions I made to come here. I learned more writing from the IDS and getting career advice from my professors than I think I would have gotten anywhere else. I've had experiences and learned through mistakes. I learned a new definition of what it meant to work hard. The things that have probably meant the most to me are the friends that I have amassed here, in my home for the last two years. These people, and you know who you are, have listened to me, given advice to me, and most importantly, they've been there for me -- no matter what.\nI left a lot of things in Indy; great friends, a scholarship and a lot of close relationships with professors. But deep down, I knew I wasn't a perfect match, no matter how many times I made myself walk around campus and try to find things that I liked. I don't have to force myself to love IU -- I always have and I probably always will. I found myself here, made lasting friendships with people I hope to see throughout my life and realized I love to write and what makes me cool and what makes me lame and who I really am. I found my match, and for that I will always be grateful.