Home Away from Home by Taylor

Home Away from Home by Taylor - January 2013 Scholarship Essay

Going up and down, left and right, and swirling all around can make a person extremely dizzy.  A rollercoaster ride that is not found at an amusement park, but instead, in the minds of high school students trying to decide on the perfect school to attend after four long years of hard work.  Each school considered becomes a huge hill that the participant must climb.  The student begins to research each aspect to ensure that every detail is satisfactory such as the cafeteria or the distance to the nearest Cook-Out.  As the details slowly come together, the excitement inside begins to grow.  Then suddenly something gets in the way and down the hill you go, on to the next growing hill on the rollercoaster’s path. 
            I was on my own personal college search rollercoaster not too long ago.  Swooping, swirling, and falling had become a pastime of mine.  After searching through schools upon schools, I had yet to have that “AHA” moment that all the college kids speak of when they talk about their college visits.  I was beginning to think I was going to have to settle with some school that did not fit my needs until I visited Meredith College. 
            After speaking with an admission counselor, I realized she was making my dreams come true right before my eyes.  They offered wonderful study abroad programs, ensured that my work would not be ignored, and that there was a Cook-Out right down the street. More importantly, they cared.  I slowly realized that I was done with my rollercoaster as my anxieties began to dissolve in mid-air.  I was undoing all of my safety gadgets finally and stepping on to the ground for the first time. Now I was finally on the exit side of the rollercoaster car with a huge grin on my face ready for the next ride.
            I am extremely happy with school.  Everyone is supportive of one another and I feel as though I am free to be whoever I would like to be.  Whether I turn out to be a cowgirl in my future days or a neurosurgeon, I know that I have system of passionate professors and peers standing by me.  Day by day, I am growing into the strong, young woman that I saw myself being for the last four years and I can thank those at Meredith College for helping me grow.