Why I Chose Cumberlands

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to go to college. I knew that I wouldn’t be happy settling for a job that I wasn’t passionate about. Some people can find their passions and pursue them without college, and that’s okay! But for me, I knew college was the way to go.

As my senior year of high school rolled around, I still had that dream of attending a university, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. That is, until colleges started visiting my high school. One school in particular drew my eye: University of The Cumberlands. Thirty minutes from home but still far enough for me to feel independent, a much lower tuition than the schools around me, AND it was a Christian campus? This school sounded perfect. Before I knew it, high school graduation came, summer passed, and I was on my way to Cumberlands. 

Getting here, it didn’t take me long to fall in love with the campus. The beautiful architecture alone made me never want to leave. It has that old-timey feel to it that you just don’t really see anymore. The university being a smaller one, I realized that everyone here knows basically everyone else. Within the first few days of classes, I was making friends. I was able to freely express my faith here. I really felt like I belonged. 

Weeks passed, then months. I had completed my first semester in the blink of an eye. And I was so excited for my next, but due to some personal troubles at home, I had to temporarily withdraw. My time away from the school just made me long to be here more. During that time, I solidified my decision that Cumberlands was the place for me and came back as soon as I could. A year and a half later, I was back on campus, and it was like no time had passed. I picked up right where I had left off. I jumped right back into my education, and, with a little help from my professors, I progressed.

Time has flown since first arriving here, and now I am a senior preparing to take my next steps in life. I feel prepared thanks to the community and the connections I have made through this school. People say that high school is going to be the best days of your life, but I truly believe, in the future when I look back at my time here, I will know that college was the best days of my life. I don’t believe I would have felt this way if I had chosen another school. I never knew before starting my journey here at Cumberlands that I would create such great memories, but I am so thankful I did. I’ll cherish them forever.