There Are No Wrong Choices
When it comes to certain things, I am incredibly indecisive. I spend entire days with clothing in my online shopping bin without ever clicking “Check Out.” I think about big life decisions longer than I should, weighing pros and cons until each list is perfectly even and I’m back at square one. I occasionally waver over which treadmill I want at the gym.
However, there is one thing that gives me comfort as I make a choice. It is something I’ve been told by my (infinitely wise) mother when I’m standing at a crossroads… or a bakery counter. And I will say it to you as you gallop towards the looming May 2nd deadline:
You cannot make a wrong choice.
“Preposterous!” you say (if you’re like 80). “Absolutely untrue!” But it is true. Hear me out:
If you are reading this blog post it is because you have options – good ones. And if that’s the case, there are no wrong choices, just different ones. Sure, you will make different friends at College X than you would at College Y, you may end up majoring in something different and even end up on a different career path. But that doesn’t mean one of those paths is good and the other is bad. In the end, you make your experience what it is, at either place. Whichever school you choose, you will ultimately (through effort) meet people and find friends you connect with. You will explore course options and choose a schedule that seems interesting and challenging. You will reach out to professors and mentors to find research opportunities, internships, and clubs to join. And that will be true anywhere.
I hope this doesn’t make this choice seem insignificant or small – I mean only to take some pressure off of you this month. You will be happy no matter where you go, because at each of the schools on your list, there are interesting people, cool classes, and fun and challenging opportunities. And wherever you go, you will continue to be you - and you will find friends, grow and change, and learn so much at your future home, wherever that may be. So all you can do at this moment is gather information, trust your gut, and make a choice. After that, don’t worry if you made the wrong one. You didn’t. Because there’s no such thing, remember?
Photo by astrangegirl via flickr.