Many young equestrians will soon hang up their tack and head off to college for a new and exciting chapter in their lives. Finding the time and a place to ride is not always easy, but as Samantha Geller writes, it’s not impossible to keep your head in the books and two feet in the stirrups if it’s important to you.
There comes a time in every high school equestrian’s life where they have to evaluate their passions, goals and aspirations and figure out what’s next as the reality of college becomes more and more real. For me this came the fall of my senior year of high school. Between riding, varsity cross country practices, student council and trying to maintain a social life, I was joyfully busy. Then one day the reality of growing up hit me.
In early September, my friends and I were sitting in the courtyard at school enjoying the afternoon sunshine and daydreaming when suddenly I heard my name shouted from across the yard. It was my college counselor. He called me into his office because he hadn’t heard anything from me about what I wanted to do for college or where I was even interested in applying. We sat down at his desk and he asked me where I wanted to go and what I wanted to study.
Like many my age I had no idea, and after about thirty minutes of going back and forth we had a list of what I thought I was looking for: I had an interest in the environmental sciences, business and horses. I was seeking a small school environment, small class size, mostly rural environment and I wanted to continue one of my two sports in college (riding or running). Even after we made that list, I was still anxious and unsure.
The idea of college was scary. As a self proclaimed nerd, I knew my academics were solid as were my test scores, but there was still this internal fear eating me up inside that I would not be accepted anywhere.
What if this school didn’t like me? What if they didn’t like my essays? What if I didn’t have enough community service? What if they don’t like the classes I took or thought my AP test scores were sub-par for their standards?
Being a nerd, I completed all thirteen of my applications way before they were due and I thought I was done with the college stress by mid-October. That’s when the waiting game began. I had all the way until April first to hear back from some of the schools I applied to. To break up the long process, my family had planned a trip out to Tennessee to check out a university that I had heard great things about and was falling in love with. It was a small, preppy, highly academic school set on 13,000 acres of forest, and I would be able run on their team as well as ride. When a friend heard that were heading out there they insisted we first fly into Lexington, KY and visit the University of Kentucky, as they have a strong Equine Science program and are located in the heart of horse country.
When we arrived in Lexington I was a little confused why we needed to be here…it had a huge student population, an urban campus and, on top of it all, I would never see the track as UK is home to a nationally ranked NCAA Women’s Track and Field team. I wanted no part in this humongous school when I first looked at it.
My family arranged a tour of the College of Agriculture and met with the faculty of the Equine Science department. After we completed our tour, my parents had officially fallen in love with the University of Kentucky. That night, in my small hotel room, I reluctantly applied, but I wasn’t sold on the school. We then made our way down to the school in Tennessee and it was everything I thought it was and more. I was in love, but my parents were dubious.
I returned home to Southern California knowing that I loved the South but we couldn’t agree on a school. Back into my crazy routine at home, just as before, I found comfort in being at the barn. I enjoyed spending my free time riding, helping my trainers out and watching others ride. I soon realized my true passion was with horses.
Eventually college acceptance letters came in and my options for the fall became more and more clear. I admit there were lots of them, but none really were the clear choice for both my parents and myself. Then I received my acceptance letter from the University of Kentucky. They sent me a very nice letter and it was clear they wanted me as a student and invited me to their Merit Scholar Weekend. I still wasn’t sold on UK but I had began to talk to three girls also in the Equine program that were interested in being my roommates and agreed to attend Merit Scholar weekend on campus in late March. That’s when my opinion of UK changed.
The University of Kentucky is nothing like any school I have ever seen, it’s a large urban campus surrounded by beautiful green horse county. It’s a large student population but has smaller class sizes than most schools, a vibrant campus life and almost all of the dorms have been built in the past 3 years. After Merit Weekend I even had a friend who I could call my own. Slowly but surely Lexington began to win me over—green grass, gorgeous barns, stone fences along the highway, horses everywhere and the southern charm was nothing like I ever had experienced at home.
After long thought and lots of introspection, I finally realized my heart was in the horses. Although my college search was long, winding and filled with tears, one thing stayed the same—my passion for the sport and love for horses.
As an incoming freshman, I am of course scared of living 2,100 miles from home, leaving my horse & barn behind, and leaving my friends, but I am also so excited. For everything I am leaving behind in Southern California, I am opening doors for new adventures and experiences in Lexington. I’m now excited for my classes (besides Chemistry and Calculus), and I’m looking forward to trying out for the schools IHSA team and finding a new barn.
While my story of finding my perfect college might not be the most conventional, it was all my own. As high school equestrians prepare for their pursuit of higher education it’s important for them to remember and evaluate their passions in life, because if they don’t, they might lose what means the most to them.
Attending college is a wonderful opportunity and should be a time full of memories and working towards the career you want. As the saying goes, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and as I pack my boxes for my cross country trip to Lexington, the excitement of what lies ahead keeps growing and I’m confident I will never work a day in my life as long as I am around the horses.
About the Author
As a recent graduate of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, CA, Samantha Geller is an incoming freshman to the University of Kentucky. After making the cross country move to Lexington in August, she will study Equine Science and hopes to join Kentucky’s Equestrian Team. Samantha enjoys eventing with her mount Brunello di Montalcino, as well as surfing, long distance running and hanging out at the barn.