Have you ever thought about just how much can change with a single decision?  I have””too much, probably.  Needless to say, I am an indecisive person. Big and small issues, I have trouble making any decision.  From what to eat in Mabee, to what to do after graduation, decisiveness evades me.  Because of this, I often rely on the opinions of others for help.  But sadly, some matters do not have a clean cut answer, and in many cases, you are the only one who can make the best decision for yourself.

Before deciding on Trinity, I visited 11 different schools.  These 11 schools were located up and down the East Coast.  The outlier, however, was Trinity University, located smack-dab in the center of the country, 1300 miles away from home.  To make this hefty decision, my dad and I constructed a “matrix,” as we called it, through which I would discover my dream university.  We factored in everything from academics to dining options.  Everything was measured and scores were generated.  What did our matrix tell me to do?  There was no clear frontrunner; my matrix failed me, and I was forced to decide for myself.

We all know how this story ends: I chose Trinity.  But it wasn’t an easy decision for me. The decision to go to Trinity was a surprise, not only to my family but also to me.  It was, as I said, the outlier””the one unlike the others.  Nine times out of 10, I trust my head over my heart, and still, I went against what I thought were the logical and comfortable options.  There was something about this place that compelled me to give it a chance.

I’m leaving Trinity knowing that I have no regrets.  You may not believe me when I say that, but I mean it.  Disregarding the second language I gave up on, the class that I withdrew from, the second major that I dropped, I know that I am a better person for the hurdles that I faced here.  There’s something to the fact that I made my own decision in choosing Trinity; I owned this decision, and all the accomplishments and mistakes that came with it.

So, I encourage you to trust your instincts because the smart choice is not always the best choice.   In any decision you make, none of the options will be perfect.  Go with your gut, and make the most of the opportunity because you chose it.

Well, Trinity University, you forced me out of my comfort zone, but I’m thankful for it.  You pushed me to be better, to be stronger, to be smarter and to be an individual””to be myself. My four years at Trinity have been as perfect as I could’ve hoped. I carved my own path and took a chance on a place that was unlike what I thought I wanted.  I have loved my time here, but I hope what people say about college years is wrong; I hope these weren’t the best years of my life because I’m excited for the next chapter, whatever that may be.