I have officially started searching websites like a wild woman, calling the university I’m attending to the point where the operator recognizes my voice, and leaving procrastination in the dust. Finally, college has arrived. And it is not arriving slowly, if I might add.

Obligations such as scholarships, contracts, deadlines, financial aid, and housing are just a few of the things on my mind on a day to day basis. It has gotten to the point where I feel as if I am spending my time fantasizing about the colors of my curtains and how comfortable my bed will be. Instead of thinking about how I will be able to afford my food each week, I am thinking about farmer’s markets each Sunday.

Needless to say, my excitement to move to Portland, OR (a place I have never even visited before) is through the roof. College is something I am expected to anticipate with white-knuckled force; everything I stood for in high school is now reflecting on my path to college. Sure, I regret the many flaws in my transcript (I would not pin myself to be a star-student. I am, by all means, average) which, if absent, could have gotten me more acceptance letters into more prestigious schools, but regret will not erase the numbers.

An acceptance is an acceptance, whether it is in a school with a 90 percent acceptance rate, or one with a 20 percent acceptance rate. I was baffled to hear comments from my classmates that were along the lines of: “well, PSU’s acceptance is not so special; anyone can get in!” And while I wholeheartedly agree it is quite simple to be admitted into schools with a high acceptance rate, but one should not patronize one’s dream just because it is seemingly one-size-fits all.

The fact that I am stepping up, gathering my life, and moving to a state I have never visited is notable enough. I should not be told that my dream is subpar just because it is a common dream to achieve. Sure, it would be nice to be accepted into a school with a notable name, such as NYU, but where is the importance of acceptance, when I would not even attend the said school due to the financial obligations that come with it?

College is not an overnight plan. The entirety of a high school career benefits greatly to college, as the obligations of classes and grades impact a student’s image. Staying up late for essays and assignments to be finished are important actions to be considered.

I would be happy regardless of where I am accepted, as long as a new experience is guaranteed for me. Education is, indeed, important to me, and I will embrace the change my college career offers me with open arms.