Hello, good people.  It’s been a long time… *Cue Timberland’s drops from “Try Again” by Aaliyah.*  So, after an “extended vacation” at home during Fall semester, I’m back at HU for Spring semester.  Still, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve made the right decision.  Among my peers there is  a definite college trend; people either stay in California or move far, far away.  Thinking about this makes my head spin because while there are benefits to staying close to home (family, friends, inexpensive tutition), I feel the need to be away at school in order to experience a different culture and to meet new people.  This always drums up questions from friends such as, “Why not move to LA?! How much more cultural can you get?”  and “Is San Francisco not diverse enough for you?”

Throughout my short expanse of life and ever since I had some concept of higher education, I’ve always envisioned going away to school, going to awesome college parties, and immersing myself in all things collegiate.  For a time I thought that I would undoubtedly attend school in my home state.  That all changed when my overachieved person was not accepted into Cal Berkeley.  I had made my options to be “Go to an excellent NorCal school or move away.”  Enter Howard University.

Now, don’t get me wrong; I LOVE my school.  It was all that I thought about ( almost) while I was home for a semester.  I have plenty of goals and aspirations for my college career here in Washington D.C.  Little did I know, researching various schools while at home and even applying to some schools would make me more curious than ever as to what other college experiences I can have.  Thus, I will be applying to USC.  My dad and stepmom will be incredibly excited if I get in; my mom not so much.  She feels as though I shouldn’t do too much school hopping.  While I completely understand her point of view as it has been taxing to the tenth power to move across the country, then back home, then across it again, it could possibly be worth my while to at least consider attending a school with a brighter star than Howard U.  USC has an alumni network that can put many schools to shame, academics that would make some students pull out there hair, and a location that rivals almost any Ivy League, right in the heart of Los Angeles. 

What are your thoughts?  Is uncertainty about where you would like to attend school- and whether or not you’ve made the right choice -inevitable?  Or, rather than focusing so much thought and energy on choosing the right school, should I instead focus it on doing the best that I can at the school I currently attend?  Help me out! Gimme your thoughts.