What path to pick?

I like to be contrarian. Now, most times we laugh at people who say this, because while it can be frustrating, it makes for an endearing person. But what I think it really means is that I take pleasure in being the opposite of stereotypes, the challenge of proving that to someone else (epitome of exroversion) excites me. Now normally this is all fine and dandy and makes for some spirited banter, but in one scene of my life it took a toll: picking a college.

The Setup:
I applied to 16 schools and got into 12. There were schools out of state and schools in state, both private and UCs. And there was Santa Clara University. For some background, I am a third generation Santa Clara attendee. First, my grandfather, then my mom, his daughter, and now me. And I should also mention that my aunt and uncle went here and all of my mom's friends, who are our close family friends went here. Therefore, I have been raised white and red since day one, both through the forceful influence of my grandfather who thinks that there is no better school (think traditional, all family goes here, etc.). And also through the much subtler influences of hearing the fabulous stories from their time here and seeing their wonderful friendships.

The What:
So when the time finally came to pick a school I was at a loss of where to go. This may not seem like the biggest challenge but I had been dreaming of college because of my mom since day one. To me this would be it, I was going to make these the best four years of my life no matter what. But where to go? I felt like this decision would define my life because it seemed like it had my mom's (one of the people I admire the most) and everyone else around me. I got in to UCLA and UC Berkeley and those were at the top of my choice list, along with the ever-present Santa Clara. And it's not that I didn't want to come to SC, even back then I think I knew I did, it was more that I didn't want to be or have people think that I was being just like everyone else in my family. I like to be slightly rebellious and do things my own way, it makes me feel individualistic. So going to the same school was about as far from that ideal as I could get. I've always really liked the quote, "If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room." And I would be taking up a ton of room choosing the school everyone in my family had gone to. Plus factoring the opportunity cost of giving up an education at UCLA and UC Berkeley was tough.



The So What: 
The reason this decision matter more to me than most was because in my world college was it. I would be 18, and out of the house, and beginning to live a life away from my parents. This decision would be the first one of my own and make an enormous impact, and to be honest it was scary. Growing up with all the wonderful and sometimes stupid stories of my grandfather, mom, and friends I wanted to have the same exciting experience more than anything. But at the same time I wanted to be my own person, and make my own life, not copy someone else's. I felt like I was uninteresting and someone who couldn't make their own unique choices so I would just follow in the footsteps of everyone else.

The Now What: 
When push came to shove in the 11th hour I realized that Santa Clara is an incredible school and just because my family had come here it shouldn't stop me. I am my own person even if we attended the same school. Sure some of the experiences will be the same, but I am not. I will meet different people and make different and just as exciting everyday choices. Plus, looking back and laughing at myself, my dad attended UC Berkeley for a masters degree, so even if I had chosen to go their I would have still been in the family tradition of sorts. I realized that just because I like the same things as my family doesn't make me boring. In fact I am now proud to be at such an amazing school with such a vivacious and driven student body, SCU is the best place for me and I love everything about it. Just take a look at my URL for this blog, "happilyabronco.blogspot.com." Santa Clara was the best decision I ever made.  It just took me a while to get here...



“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”” – Paulo Coelho