As the end of my senior year approached, I had submitted my college applications. Like many other high school seniors, I eagerly awaited the acceptance letter from my dream college. I had already chosen a college that I would be attending in the fall semester, despite Coastal Carolina University being low on my preference list. However, it turned out that Coastal Carolina University was the university I would soon be attending. Although I was disappointed not to be able to attend my top choice, I initially viewed Coastal as a disappointment rather than a blessing.
When I first got accepted to Coastal Carolina University, my initial impression was not positive. I didn’t see it as a top choice and thought of it as a backup option in case my preferred universities didn’t work out. There were rumors at school about Coastal being more of a party school than a reputable university, which made me doubt its legitimacy. I also believed that it was located near the beach, had underachieving sports teams, high rates of STDs, and was only recognized locally. These accusations were quite harsh, considering I didn’t have much knowledge about the university. However, my perspective changed during orientation when I discovered both aspects I liked and disliked about Coastal.
Entering the Coastal with a healthy heart and an open mind enabled me to appreciate the value of something I believed was not worthy of my attention. To my surprise, I discovered that the university’s atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and friendly, mainly due to the people. Every individual I encountered was modest and acknowledged that we all share the same stage in life. Witnessing this characteristic among the majority of the campus population facilitated my adaptation and integration with others, despite the captivating campus scenery and genuine hospitality.
