I was the kind of girl in high school who counted down everything.

Senior year went extremely quick for me and as the days dwindled to an end, I counted down everything from the last semester to the last chorus concert to the last days of class to the very last final. And with each passing day I became sadder because I was afraid to leave high school.

I was afraid for it to end, and I was incredibly afraid to start the next big chapter in my life - college.

Now, three and a half years later, I don't have much of a countdown.

Although I have an electronic countdown tracking the second to graduation on Myspace, I'm not obsessing over it each and every day, worrying it's my last class, my last homework assignment or saying "This is the last article I'll ever write for The Daily Collegian."

Because I'm no longer a "counter," I have to ask why.

One of two conclusions can be drawn.

First, it's possible that I'm not nearly as neurotic or emotional as I was in high school, which isn't very likely.

Or, Penn State has matured and prepared me to make the next appropriate step in my life.

I'm going to take the second conclusion. It makes me sound better.

When we arrive at college as freshmen, we're not entirely sure how to act.

Most of us come straight from high school and no matter how much teachers said they treated us like adults, they really didn't.

We lived in this dreamlike world where everything was slightly out of reach and we had someone else to answer to.

Well, in college our freedom is increased because we're away from home for the very first time.

We get to decide what we do, what classes we take and what we want to do with our lives. I started my college experience at a branch campus and commuted from home, so my freedom was deterred for two years.

But when I came to University Park, I was officially introduced to the phrase "college freedom."

At first, this freedom terrified me.

I was homesick and terrified to be away from my family and friends.

Truthfully, I'm not the average college student.

I've only been to one Penn State football game, I don't like group activities and I'd much rather stay in on a Friday night watching a movie on television than go to a frat party with my fellow students.

Because of this, I was told I wouldn't have any friends up here.

But instead, I just found friends who didn't prefer sports outings, were introverted individuals and didn't do keg stands in their free time.

As I'm sure most incoming freshmen are told college will be the best four years of your life, numerous people told me the same thing.

I'm not sure if I'd say they were the best, but they were definitely the most interesting.

I had the chance to learn so many things, both in and out of the classroom.

I learned we don't always have the answer and that it's OK to not know your life plan at 21.

I made wonderful friends and had a lot of fun.

In the three and a half years I've been a college student, I've done everything on my list, except meet Joe Paterno. And even though I can't cross that last thing off my list, I'm still pleased with my college experience.

So, now back to my question. Did college make me less neurotic or did Penn State instill in me wisdom, maturity and power to create my future?

I'll let you decide, but keep in mind that I got a little teary-eyed quite a few times while writing this.