Photo Credits – West Chester University via wcupa.edu
Over the course of my four years here at West Chester, this university, the people and myself have surpassed any expectation I ever intended. Senior year of high school, I had no intention of going away to school let alone an out-of-state school. I’m from South Jersey and never saw myself leaving Jersey especially to go away to school. Regardless of my feelings, I knew the norm was to apply to schools your senior year. So I did what my friends did and applied to schools, went on tours and kept an open mind. I had a sudden change of heart when I received my acceptance letter from WCU (which I originally only applied to because my best friends did). I opened my acceptance letter and showed my mom. She congratulated me and we kind of brushed it off. I wasn’t sure what to do now because it wasn’t on my agenda to pack up and move to Pennsylvania for the next four years. I toured WCU with my best friends and their moms, but my mom didn’t come with me. We both kind of just accepted I wasn’t going to go away to school. I walked this beautiful campus with parents that weren’t mine and after seeing all West Chester had to offer, I went home with a light in my eyes. I expressed how much I loved this campus to my mom, and she was happy for me and we had a talk that she knew I would do whatever was best for me. It wasn’t until May of my senior year of high school that I sat my mom down and I said, this is gonna be short notice, but I think I want to go to West Chester. We scrambled every piece of paper we needed to get, all of the dorm necessities, and school supplies I would need in the matter of a couple months.
I got to West Chester in August of 2018, and I met some amazing people. I made friends, my classes were going great, but something just didn’t feel right. I would sit in my dorm for days on end, unsure of the decision I just made. Everyone always tells you as a new freshman how hard the first semester, or even first year is going to be, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I contemplated for the entire rest of the school year if this was the place for me. I returned sophomore year and my entire outlook turned around. I got involved in clubs, Greek life and extracurriculars. I felt myself physically changing. I became drastically happier and I decided that I can make this place work for me.
Now here I am, a graduating senior. I was never sure if this was going to be my outcome. From freshman year until now, I’m an entirely different person. I found my passions, my best friends and a home away from home. If I had to give any advice to students who feel they were in the same position I was, I would say stick it out. Try your absolute hardest to make this place your home. Get involved. Talk to everyone you see. There’s an infinite amount of opportunities for everyone here, if you allow them. West Chester has become a piece of home to me. I’ve completed so many milestones here that I never imagined myself doing. I’m graduating with a major I never saw myself pursuing, but ended up falling in love with and two minors. I’ve made the Dean’s List. I’ve held positions in my extracurriculars and Greek life. All of these things from someone who originally didn’t want to come here and even contemplated if it was the right decision after getting here. I can’t thank West Chester enough for all of the opportunities, people and memories it has provided me with. Everything I’ve learned, grown from, and experienced here will be carried with me for the rest of my life. The professors, staff, and faculty truly do change your life for the better! I’ve had the pleasure of having some amazing professors and advisors who have endlessly put my academic success first. I truly feel prepared for whatever the future has to bring.
Use whatever remaining time you may have at West Chester to the absolute fullest. It truly will be the fastest, best four years of your life. If you take anything away from this, just know these four years are what you make of it. West Chester will always be a place I can call my second home, and I’m so grateful that I was able to make such an unsure decision and absolutely positive one in the end.
Yasmin Schepis is an alumnus of West Chester University.