"I Thought I Was Going To Clemson"

I don't know if this narrative is going to make me look like a "stereotypical blonde," but I'm as honest as they come, so I'll continue to be honest to my LinkedIn network, too. And I love being blonde-ish (That is, I love my hair color. Thanks Indigo Loft in Syracuse! Go see Gavvy - she's the best!)

We're deep into decision-time for college-bound students to figure out where they're going to spend the next adventure in their life, and for the past month, plenty of parents of potential incoming freshmen to make up the Class of 2022 (...that's not a typo...feeling old now...) have been asking current students, "Why Syracuse?"

Is it the fact that you could potentially get snow until graduation? (yes, it's currently snowing on April 19)

Is it because the mascot is an Orange?

Maybe it's the fact that almost all of our all sports teams play in dome-like venues?

"It's far enough from my parents that they can't just show up on my door step unannounced."

Bob Costas, Mike Tirico, Betsy Johnson, Joe Biden, Katherine Switzer, Donovan McNabb, Ernie Davis, Jim Brown, Dwight Freeney, Gary Gait, Dick Clark, Aaron Sorkin, Vanessa Williams, Ted Koppel, Cheryl Strayed, THE INVENTOR OF THE SCRUB DADDY all thought it was a fantastic idea to go Orange...!

You're probably thinking, "If it was good enough for Vanessa Williams, it's good enough for me!" Shoot, I didn't even know who half of the people were on the above list until I was at Syracuse as a student. I lived in my own bubble in Western PA - the only famous people I knew wore Black and Gold or were my parents. So how did I make #TheDecision to go to Syracuse University for MY next adventure?

#TheDecision made me. My mom's friend's daughter was a professor here at the time, so we booked the official school visit in the summer of 2003 to visit her and her also-professor husband - bada bing bada boom. The only thing that I knew about this school I was going to visit was that they had an "okay" journalism school (sarcasm, folks) and their school color was Orange (and later, I went on to be Most School Spirit 2004 - never give up on your dreams, kids).

So, off my mom and I went to Clemson (again, not a typo).

Syracuse was still in the BIG EAST at that time, so that's not nearly as offensive as it would be now, but that's actually how clueless I was about this visit (and geography). I just trusted my mom and our referral and off we went during a picture-perfect summer day in Upstate New York. Once I finally knew that I was at Syracuse University I never wanted to leave.

I remember walking through the quad absolutely loving the buildings, listening to the presentations from faculty and staff, and we even spent the next afternoon in Skaneateles - the cutest little village along one of the Finger Lakes that I hope to call home someday. It was picture-perfect. I had to go to Syracuse because I FELT it. I felt like I fit in there, like the faculty and staff would get me where I wanted to go, and that I would have a really great - not to mention FUN - education. It was the first place I went to during that year of official college visits that I said to my mom definitively, "I have to go here." You could say I definitely fit the Liberal Arts mold; I'm not the most analytical person in the world, but what's so important to remember is that you're ONLY 18 (maybe not even!) when you're deciding what you potentially want to do for the rest of your life.

That's insane. I'm 32 and still trying to figure that out.

So, my unsolicited advice to those trying to figure out where to go to college and why? Trust your family - that they're pointing you some sort of right direction and that they will support your decision, no matter what you choose! Ask lots of questions that you actually want to know the answer to and really FEEL it when you're on campus; take the time to soak it all up like a sponge and then dive in. Make sure - no matter where you go - that you have lots of options (academically and socially) because your mind will change and plans will be derailed. Make sure that you feel safe so that your family finds comfort knowing that this will be your second home for four-ish years.

Most importantly? Know that it's okay if where you first thought you'd be isn't where you end up.

To this day, I'm thankful that my mom and I didn't make the drive to Clemson (though I'm sure it's lovely, and not snowing in April) that summer because Syracuse is what set met up for a really great first-quarter of my life. I now have friends all over the country doing some pretty cool things, I found a career in the sport industry (so I, too, get to do some pretty cool things!), met many mentors that have become more like family to me, I learned to really miss and LOVE my hometown, I learned that Syracuse is a lot like my hometown (with some really special people that live here!), and I value the heck out of my education. Going to Syracuse and having the alumni support that we have has actually set me up for the next-couple-of-quarters of my life. Without a doubt, I know this is exactly the crazy path I was supposed to take to get just where I was meant to be.

I never knew I'd live in Syracuse, New York as a college student nor did I then think I'd end up back here as an adult, but as you're figuring out what your next steps are, just make sure to trust your gut (it's never, ever wrong) and hold on tight! It's going to be a heck of a ride!

#TheDecision #StudentVoices #ProfessorVoices