As I’m getting ready to spend a semester across the pond and more than 3,000 miles  from Penn State, I can’t help but reflect on what all brought me here to begin with and all of the amazing things and people I’d be leaving behind.

I grew up in a town not far from State College, in a family full of Penn State alums and Penn State fans, with two of my three older sisters being Penn State alums themselves, it was hard to not be influenced by their countless conversations about the things that Penn State taught all of them. I had been going to Penn State games with my dad since before I could probably walk, and to put it plain and simple, Penn State has always kind of been in my blood.

I submitted my application literally the first day you could apply and waited by the mailbox every single day after, refreshing my MyPennState account about every ten minutes until I finally received an acceptance letter in January. It felt like the longest months of my life, but after three tours, and constantly tweeting admissions (oh, the irony…) I was finally able to officially call Penn State home.

I started in the Summer of 2014 and now as a junior, there is still not one single day that I regret my decision to come to Penn State. I specifically chose to come to Penn State because I knew that no matter what the experience was like for my family members, mine would still be my own, and it would be everything I could’ve hoped for and more.

The College of Communications is one of the absolute best in the country, and I have never once felt like I was unprepared for whatever task they threw my way. They supported me as a wide-eyed high school senior and still support me through my monthly questions about my schedule, internships and anything life throws my way. I know that because of the opportunities that they’ve given me and their influence in academic fields, that I’m more prepared to take on any job than before and while the job market is tough, I’m not as afraid because of the experiences they encouraged me to have.

I chose to come to Penn State because I knew I would find my home in my college and at least one of the organizations. Whether I’m painting with my THON family, writing with my Her Campus family, or planning events with my COMM family, I always have someone to turn to when I need a reminder of how lucky I am to be a Penn Stater.

Penn State was and is the greatest decision of my life, and I hope everyone has the chance to experience it.