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So if you’re reading this you’re probably thinking of transferring schools or maybe just curious about what it’s like….
Either way I want to assure you right now that you absolutely have the strength to do it. I know it seems so scary but I promise you everything will come together and you’ll grow as a person in the end.
I transferred from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island to SUNY Oneonta in New York, my home state. I completed my freshman year in Rhode Island and transferred to SUNY Oneonta in the fall of my sophomore year. During my freshman year I joined the cheer team and made a few amazing friends along the way. I made bonds with people that will last a lifetime. Even still I felt like the school just wasn’t for me so I started looking at some schools in New York since I was from there.
Oneonta was perfect for me because it was one of the only SUNY schools that had my major. I had actually applied here as a senior in high school but didn’t wind up getting in. I re-applied as a transfer just to see if I could qualify since my grades went up. Sure enough I was accepted and I was so proud of myself.
Now I had a huge decision on my hands: do I transfer or stay in Rhode Island and see if things get better? This was one of the hardest decisions I had to make but one of the most rewarding ones. I went back and forth for months trying to decide what I really wanted. I talked to my parents day in and day out trying to come to a definite choice. I finally took the leap and decided to transfer.
I realized that what could come of this could be great. I had made so many friends at Johnson and Wales that I didn’t want to leave but now it just meant that I had more friends all over the country, and moving onto Oneonta only meant that I would make more.
I showed up to Oneonta in the Fall only knowing what facebook profiles would show of my 5 new roommates. I was so excited but so nervous to meet my roommates and start my life here in Oneonta. Personally, I’m a very shy person so I was nervous about how I would come out of my shell in a situation where I was the only new-comer. I think it actually ended up benefiting me in the process. The other girls were already laughing and joking around so it was kind of easy for me to join in and take part in the conversation which I never thought I could do. The girls were really helpful and showed me around campus. After about a week I felt so much more comfortable.
In a way I almost had 2 freshman year experiences so that really gave me perspective and allowed me to grow as a person. I ended up learning a lot about myself that year and met some of my best friends.
Transferring is a topic that people almost feel nervous talking about. No one in this generation wants people to know how unhappy they are. Everyone is so concerned with how their life appears on social media and we don’t take the time to question if we’re really happy.
Transferring was one of the best, hardest, most rewarding experiences in my life and if i had the chance to do it all over again I would. Now I can say I’ve been to 2 schools in 2 different states and I’ve made friends from Illinois, NYC, Maine, New Jersey and now Upstate New York.
If you’re thinking about transferring and are worried about making a decision like this I want you to know that everything will always work out in the end, it kinds has to right? Don’t worry about what people will think or how you’ll explain it to others. All that matters is your happiness and your heart. True friends will keep in touch with you and nothing will change between you. In life there are no real regrets just lessons learned.