When I transferred schools in January of last year, I had no idea that living nine hours away from home would be so difficult. However, the opportunity to find my independence has benefited me on many levels.
I started college as a freshman at a university about 90 minutes from my house in January 2024. I graduated a semester early from my high school in Illinois, and I originally wanted to be a dance performance major. However, I had a difficult time fitting in at a larger university, and health issues prevented me from reaching my potential in dance. I decided to transfer to UNK and filled out my application about halfway through the fall 2024 semester.
I faced several challenges moving to Nebraska from Illinois, but perhaps the most significant was the distance from my family. I went from spending several weekends at home every semester to seeing my family once every few months. This was a difficult adjustment and required me to find a “home away from home.”
One thing I noticed was that starting college and transferring in the middle of the year was a lonelier experience because most people start college and find their groups of friends in the fall. I spent my first semester at UNK mostly alone in my room, unsure how to move forward. Looking back, starting in the spring was not the best decision from a social standpoint. However, I was able to use the spring semester to focus on transitioning to a new major, which was helpful.
I also realized that journalism was something I was passionate about while taking a class during that first semester, which helped me envision a different future for myself than I previously thought would be possible.
This fall was when I realized that I needed to put myself out there and find friends, and I am so glad I did. I joined several student organizations and took on leadership roles in some of them, allowing me to find multiple people who are now my friends. I realized that transferring to UNK had been the right decision, even though I was uncertain about it at first.
My biggest advice for out-of-state or transfer students is to join organizations that you have an interest in and see where the opportunities take you. Another important piece of advice is to take any opportunity you can for personal or professional development, even if you think it is beyond your capabilities. Shadowing a professional, taking a leadership role in a student organization or just improving your personal scheduling habits can help you gain more confidence in yourself as a person.
Finding your confidence as an out-of-state student can be difficult, but believe it or not, it is possible. I found a second home and a new opportunity for independence in a place where I felt that I would never fit in at first. The most important thing is to spend your time finding the people, places and passions that make life away from home not so daunting after all.
