This is a difficult time of year for most high school seniors. I remember being extremely excited for prom and graduation, and extremely nervous about everything that would happen after graduation. I was unsure how to stay in contact with my friends that were going to different schools. I started to second guess my school choice, and I started to think about how I was going to make new friends as I went off to college.

I chose IPFW because it was a large school that was close to home. I was accepted to other schools and IPFW was the largest one. I was uncomfortable with the size at first because I came from a very small town and a small high school. It seemed perfect that I could go to a large school, but student housing had less than 600 students (we have almost 800 now!). I thought it would be the perfect combination for me. I also knew that I would have more independence at IPFW, and that I could enjoy all of the activities in Fort Wayne.

I found that it was difficult to stay in contact with some of my friends. The hardest part was remembering that they were making new friends at college just like I was. It was great to have IM and e-mail to keep up with each other. I also found out that each time my friends from high school got together we would have a great time even if it had been a month between visits. It has always been fun sharing stories from college and realizing how many similar experiences we have had even though we are hundreds of miles apart.

My decision to come to IPFW was the biggest decision I had made at that point in my life, but three years later, I still see it as the best choice. The campus feels like it is getting smaller with each year that I am at school, but its really getting bigger with new buildings opening every year. I still have a great time with my friends from high school, and I love summer time when we really get to catch up. I have learned a lot in college, but being able to have confidence in making decisions was one of my first lessons.