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Taleah Gregg

Tammy Davis

Composition II

March 12, 2024

Finding My People and Place

When I first decided to go to college, my mind was constantly flooded with a

million thoughts about where I would go and what friends I would make. Did I want to go to a

university or a community college, or did I want to go through sorority recruitment to make more

friends? These questions never left my mind throughout my senior year. Finding my people and

my place was something important to me. The thought of leaving home and being introduced to

a new environment and new people seemed scary. Finding my place wasn’t easy, but now I am

thankful to say I found my place and the best people to surround myself with throughout this

experience.

My college decision was brutal when it came down to the last few months of high school.

At the time, I didn’t want to go to college or leave my very best friend of fifteen years. When it

came down to it, my best friend and I decided to attend the University of Central Oklahoma

(UCO). This wasn’t an easy decision, but we loved the area, and I loved the campus from a

previous camp I went to. We had another friend join us, and life seemed so exciting. All three of

us went and toured together and enrolled in classes. At that very moment, it seemed as if I found

my place and got to keep my people. As time passed, we began collecting items for our rooms

and discussing how to decorate our living room. This was the time of my life. I thought, what

could go wrong? My best friend was with me, and we were about to graduate high school and
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move to college together. Things began to take a turn, and the place I thought I would call my

new home didn’t sound like home anymore.

Throughout the summer, we all had the same plan of living together and going to UCO.

As time began to tick and the final countdown came closer until we were about to move in, I

began to feel distance from my friends. About three weeks before move-in day, my best friend

and I’s friend told us she wasn’t going anymore. We told each other it wasn’t the end of the

world, and we still had each other. Then, the two-week mark hit before move-in day, and my

best friend began to have doubts and some family issues with college. One evening, I got a text

from her saying she wasn’t going to college anymore and how sorry she was. I remember

walking to my living room where my parents were and laying on the couch between them,

crying. I kept asking them, “How am I supposed to go by myself? How will I meet new friends

and enjoy my time around total strangers?” My parents convinced me to try it out and see what

happens. At that time, I had also decided to go through sorority recruitment, so I had some hope

of meeting some friends through that. I remember that week was terrible; I was sick to my

stomach thinking about moving out in a week and knew nobody where I was going. It wasn’t

until I met a high school friend a year older than me that we caught up on life.

This friend of mine was also my best friend in high school, but she was a year older, so

we didn’t see each other as much after she went off to college. We were hanging out one

evening, and I told her about my situation. She mentioned Northern Oklahoma College (NOC),

where she was going, and then planned to transfer. She said it was an excellent program for me

when I wanted to transfer to Oklahoma State, and it was a close drive from our hometown. This

didn’t sound ideal at the time, considering how close I was to moving in and how I hadn’t even

applied to NOC. I remember rushing home to tell my parents this new plan. They weren’t
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thrilled at the time, but they knew how worried sick I was about going to UCO, so they helped

me through this process. Luckily, I had already been accepted into NOC because of previous

college classes in high school. Getting enrolled was quick and easy, and I felt at peace.

Thankfully, I got the opportunity to get an apartment and live right next to my friend. This

process wasn’t easy, but I am grateful for it.

Now that I am here, I can confidently say I have found my people and place. I have

rekindled friendships from high school and now have the best group of friends. I have also met

another lifelong friend through my high school friend, and I am forever grateful. The ease I had

when I got to NOC was incredible. Everyone here was friendly and welcoming. My mom still

reminds me that this was all God’s plan and there was a reason for what happened. Looking back

to when I was in high school, I wish I could tell myself that it would all work out. That I was

going to find my people and my place, and I would have the best college experience. Sometimes,

I wish I wasn’t so hard on myself for finding the perfect fit, but again, I’m glad I did. I think

about how miserable I would be if I was at UCO and not super close to a familiar area. My

college experience has exceeded my expectations, and I’m excited for many more years.

The process of finding my people or my place wasn’t easy. The process was brutal and

uneasy. Throughout this process, I had to remind myself that plans aren’t always set in stone. My

life felt like it went from zero to one hundred quickly, and not in a good way. Looking back now,

I am thankful for the experience and the people I had who made it easier. I am happy to say that I

found my people and my place.

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