Cowtown, I am going to miss you.
My second year of college went differently than I intended it to go. I started this year filled with optimism and excitement to return to Davis with my friends and have the best year possible. If there is anything I have learned from this year, it is that life will throw every potential curveball in your direction, but everything happens for a reason.
My year did not go smoothly, to say the least. I lost some friends, dealt with the death of my grandfather, lived in a constant state of stress, and struggled both mentally and emotionally. Tears were shed in every corner of campus. However, amid all these events, I would not change the trajectory of my second year here at Davis. I learned some very valuable and difficult life lessons and matured as a person.
On Halloween, during a mental breakdown, I decided to submit transfer applications. At the moment nothing was concrete or decided. I just wanted transferring to be an option if later in the year I decided I still wanted to go through with it. On a whim, I applied to Cal Poly Slo, Gonzaga University, San Diego State University, and UC Berkeley. Flash forward to the present day, I will officially be a zag attending Gonzaga University in the fall. I know transferring will ultimately be in my best interest but I’d be lying if I said I was ready to leave UC Davis.
Throughout this year, I have met some of the most kindhearted and memorable people. With only two weeks left of my time here at Davis, I’m finally starting to realize that I won’t be returning to these friendships next year. I won’t be walking around the UC Davis campus and seeing a familiar face every day. It wasn’t until this week that I truly realized that I am not ready to transfer and leave these people behind or Davis. Ultimately, I do want a change of scenery, a fresh start, and to attend a school that offers my major program. However, UC Davis will still hold some of my favorite memories and I have met some of my best friends here.
If you asked me two years ago when I decided to accept my admission to Davis if I knew this was how my life would unravel, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. Regardless, I would go back and accept my admission to Davis again even if I knew it wouldn’t end up being my perfect fit. I truly believe I was meant to be at Davis even if it was for only two years and I would not change a single thing from my time here.
So, thank you, UC Davis. Thank you for providing me with memories I will cherish forever, thank you for all the amazing friendships I have created, thank you for all the tears and laughter, and thank you for constantly pushing me to become the best version of myself.
With that being said, I’m officially signing off as an Aggie! (Don’t worry, I’ll still be making some surprise appearances in Davis next year).