Entering my senior year of high school, my main concern was the thought of moving away from my family to a new environment. My two older sisters had attended relatively small- to medium-sized universities, and their outgoing natures and self-assurance in pursuing their interests helped them succeed without much struggle. I, on the other hand, was unsure what I wanted to major in. I had only begun thinking about college my senior year, and I knew I wanted to attend the best possible school to reflect the hard work I’d put in over my four years of high school and the many hours I spent through my love of volunteering.   

I applied to several schools, including Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for their nutrition program. Despite my fears of moving far away from my family, I applied and was accepted to Cornell University!  

Coming from a family of six, the prospect of venturing to a new place without the physical support of my family was daunting as numerous worries swirled in my mind, including inhabiting an entirely new environment, adjusting to unfamiliar food, and interacting with unfamiliar faces. I had heard stories from students about the challenges they had faced during their time at Cornell, and it made me think of the community support I wanted to have on my new journey at Cornell.

I’d previously envisioned college life through the lens of movies, where the freedom to do as one pleases without guilt prevailed. I wanted my experience as a college student to reflect my interests, as I wanted to participate in clubs and organizations that encourage students to be their best. I reflected on the journey I wanted to have at Cornell while I attended a summer program. I knew I wanted to embark on a unique journey, and I recognized during that time that my anxiety and fear arose from uncertainty and a lack of trust that things would work out. My worry that things would not go as planned and my decision to judge the success of my college experience solely based on finding a community made me feel stressed and doubtless. 

It became clear to me that it is essential to understand that life is inherently unpredictable. It's natural to acknowledge fears, but succumbing to them and letting them dictate our lives is something we must avoid. College is a blast, and it has its ups and downs, but it all depends on one being open-minded and trying different opportunities to help build and make their experience worthwhile.