I fully enjoyed my first year where I was. I loved the people and I made fabulous friends. I do not regret my time there at all; it was where God wanted me, and it was where I needed to be. Sure, it was expensive, but it wasn't really something I was too worried about.
A week or two into July, though, I started to have serious worries about student loans and expenses and everything involved with that. My parents were helping as much as they could, but I would still graduate with a lot of debt.
So I prayed. I talked to my parents. I reached out to some of my prayer warrior friends and recruited them to pray. I listened to advice. I made pro/con lists. I stressed.
Any other time when I had considered the expense of where I was attending, I felt no doubt or worry that I wasn't where I needed to be. But this time, the doubts were real. And that was terrifying.
My parents and I made my current university aware of the fact that I would need more scholarships to attend there again while looking into other, cheaper schools with my major. We were moving forward on both fronts while trying to make this incredibly difficult decision.
This past week, the answer started to become more clear, and on Thursday, the decision was made. I would transfer.
The next morning, less than 24 hours later, my first university called and offered me more money. I was thrown into doubt again. I started making new pro/con lists (evidently an important step in my decision-making process?) while Dad started to crunch these new numbers. When I got home from work, my parents and I talked. Although I could've returned for this upcoming year, I would have been stuck there, due to the nature of the nursing program. While there are definitely worse places to be stuck, the projected costs for my last two years were once again well beyond what my family can do.
So, Friday evening, the decision was made again.
The next morning, less than 24 hours later, my first university called and offered me more money. I was thrown into doubt again. I started making new pro/con lists (evidently an important step in my decision-making process?) while Dad started to crunch these new numbers. When I got home from work, my parents and I talked. Although I could've returned for this upcoming year, I would have been stuck there, due to the nature of the nursing program. While there are definitely worse places to be stuck, the projected costs for my last two years were once again well beyond what my family can do.
So, Friday evening, the decision was made again.
The plan is to commute to a school that offers my major for a much more affordable cost while working part-time. I will graduate with less debt, which means I'll be more free to do whatever God leads me to, be it a regular job or the mission field. While I will miss my friends from my first year, they aren't getting rid of me that easily. I'm still going to keep in touch and visit and that sort of thing.
It's been hard, these past couple of days. I knew that it would be hard to say good-bye to my first university, but it was even more difficult than expected. I am relieved to have the decision made, and I am relieved that the financial side is so much nicer. It'll take a burden off of both myself and my parents. I don't know what it will be like to attend classes without my nursing friends, or to go to supper without my suitemates. I have to learn how to be commuter (any tips, my fellow commuters??) while juggling work and getting enough sleep. My second year of college will most likely be just as much as a transition as my first was.
(And I have another orientation, which is just my most favorite thing ever.)
(Not.)
Nevertheless. God's plan is bigger than mine. His timing is perfect. I think this is last-minute and rushed, which it is, but He has a reason for that. I just have to follow Him and trust.
It's been hard, these past couple of days. I knew that it would be hard to say good-bye to my first university, but it was even more difficult than expected. I am relieved to have the decision made, and I am relieved that the financial side is so much nicer. It'll take a burden off of both myself and my parents. I don't know what it will be like to attend classes without my nursing friends, or to go to supper without my suitemates. I have to learn how to be commuter (any tips, my fellow commuters??) while juggling work and getting enough sleep. My second year of college will most likely be just as much as a transition as my first was.
(And I have another orientation, which is just my most favorite thing ever.)
(Not.)
Nevertheless. God's plan is bigger than mine. His timing is perfect. I think this is last-minute and rushed, which it is, but He has a reason for that. I just have to follow Him and trust.
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