For the greater part of the last month I have been apprehensive about the coming semester. Would my classes end up being what I expected them to be? Would my professors be good, if not great? Would I find a parking spot on the first day? Would I feel like I belonged? 

It is only halfway through the first day of classes and I have to say it — I belong here. I belong at this university, I belong in these classes, and I belong in my chosen major. I am sure there will be bumps in the road as there always are. If there were no challenges, what would I learn? But for now I am happy to feel a sense of belonging.

Not only do I feel a sense of belonging but so far my classes are meeting and exceeding my expectations — as are my professors.

Many of you may be going through the “transfer transition” as I write this. Many of you are soon-to-be transfers and are running through these questions already. And then some of you may be scared to transfer because you don’t think you will belong. You might not feel like you deserve to be at a university. You may still be believing that lie about community college being for the less fortunate…the less intelligent…the less worthy. All lies. You belong. You may need to research and visit your top transfer schools, but when you do transfer to the school you feel is right for you then chances are you belong. It may not feel like it at first, but there is absolutely no reason that you don’t belong at a 4 year university. Being a mother, being a parent, being older, whatever your insecurity may be…it isn’t valid.

To the current transfer students: You belong.

To the soon-to-be transfer students: You belong.

To the apprehensive community college moms thinking of transferring: You belong.