A Happy Medium by Erin Murtaugh

Last week, I made a big decision. In fact, it is probably one of the biggest decisions I will ever make in my life. Today is the day I’m supposed to be leaving for Arizona, but I’m not.

I committed to Arizona State University in April after taking a campus tour. I thought I really, really liked the campus. In reality, I think the fact that I was at such a big university overwhelmed and excited me.

As graduation approached, I was still very excited to be going to ASU in the fall. Around the time of my graduation party, something changed. I don’t know what it was, but I was no longer excited. I actually cringed every time someone said the word “Arizona.” I even secretly applied to a few schools in anticipation of possibly transferring somewhere else spring semester.

I carried on with my summer, counting down the days until I would start the two-day drive to Tempe, where the campus is located. I bought all my dorm things and started to get to know my roommate.

Then last week came. Things were really sinking in that I only had about a week left with my family and friends. Soon, home would just become a place I would get to visit every month or so. The thoughts of leaving became extremely emotionally overwhelming. I realized though that I could still back out of Arizona State before the school year started.

That’s exactly what I did.

Yes, that’s right. The girl who was so excited to become a Sun Devil just a few short months ago is no longer becoming one. There were many more factors in deciding not to go to ASU, but moving 1,700 miles away from home was a major one.

Because my decision was so last minute, I didn’t have many options for where else to go to school.

I think I have a good solution picked out though. This fall, I’ll attend Rochester Community and Technical College to obtain a certificate in photography. That program will take a year to complete. Then, I’ll continue at RCTC to get my associate’s degree.

Once I have that, I hope to attend Winona State University-Rochester, a section of WSU which has classes at the University Center Rochester, for elementary education.

While this was no easy decision to make, I’m confident in it and I’m excited and happy with my plan I have right now.

 

Albert Lea resident Erin Murtaugh is a 2014 graduate of Albert Lea High School. She is an intern this summer for the Albert Lea Tribune. She can be reached at murtaugh.erin@gmail.com.