5 Reasons Why I Chose To Go To Grand Valley State University

Making the decision to go to Grand Valley State University was one of the best decisions of my life. I’ve met people and have had experiences that I’ll take with me always. While there were many reasons why I chose to go to Grand Valley State University over other universities, here are the top 5!

1. To Get Away

My last half of my senior year of high school was, to say the least, hell. I had lost almost all of my friends, I had gotten my heart broken, and I was stuck. Stuck in a town where I felt lost and trapped. Stuck in a cycle of having to get up go to work go to sleep and feel nothing but sadness. I chose to go to GVSU during the middle of the summer because I could not be in my town any longer. Everyone I knew was leaving, I felt as though I needed to leave. I thought that by going away to a school that wasn’t so far from home, it would heal me in some way, and it did. I made new friends, better friends than the ones I had a home. I broke out of the cycle of pain that I was in and I began to grow. Grand Valley has shown me that it’s okay to fall apart, because there are constantly people are me who are ready and willing to pick me up off the ground.

2. To Meet New People

I didn’t realize that by choosing to go to Grand Valley that I would meet people who are now my best friends. The atmosphere at the school is so welcoming and warming. I knew that if I went there that I would be forced to meet new people. Honestly, the thought alone was terrifying, but it was also exhilarating. I would get a fresh start, with faces that I’ve never seen before. Growing up in a small town, it’s more than likely that you’ll see the same faces everyday. I have lived in the same town my entire life so far, and although I absolutely love it and all the people that I have here, I needed to meet new ones. By going away, I did that. (Ironically I now live without someone who went to the same high school as me).

3. The Campus

I toured Grand Valley’s campus during my senior year and immediately fell in love with it. Although it was winter when I toured, it didn’t matter. It was beautiful and big and exciting. I was mostly introduced to “Freshman Land” (pretty self explanatory), but it was still very pretty. The buildings are all lovely to look at from the outside, and surprisingly from the inside as well. The trails on campus have so many beautiful plants and trees to gaze upon. Grand Valley is a sight for sore eyes. I can’t really describe its beauty, it’s something that has to be seen for yourself.

4. Close Proximity to Downtown Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is the shopping destination for, well, anyone in Michigan really. So obviously it was an easy choice to move somewhere so close to GR. I grew up in a town in which was a popular tourist destination, and choosing to move to another town that had the same thing was comforting. Grand Rapids isn’t a huge city, so it wasn’t as intimidating of a move and it could’ve been. Although I don’t live directly in Grand Rapids, I am only about 15 minutes from downtown. I actually live in Allendale, where Grand Valley is located. Being a college student, I obviously don’t have a lot of money, but shopping is always on my list.

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5. Close to Home

Earlier I said that I wanted to get away from home, but I also wanted to be close enough to be able to come back whenever I wanted too to see my friends and family. Where I’m from, Grand Valley is only a little over 2 hours from home. I also have a car at school, so whenever I’m down or just need to go home, I can. I don’t think that I would have ever go to a school that was more than 3 hours from home. Currently being at Grand Valley, I feel absolutely blessed that I’m so close to home. It makes being away at school much, much less stressful. Even if you’re not close with your family, I suggest staying close to home if you are nervous and scared. At least for the first year or two, just until you get comfortable and situated with being away from home.