A journey from high school to college acceptance

DECORAH - Earlier this school year, my dreams came true.

After school I found a vibrant red package in our mailbox addressed to me. I ripped it open with nervous excitement and read the bold letters on the front of the packet that held tremendous promise for my future.

'How do you feel knowing this time next year I'll be onto the next stage in my life?” I ask my mom as I filled out my first college application. 'I'll be out of the house, won't you feel so lonely?” I add, poking fun at her.

'Let's not talk about that right now ...,” she said.

I've reached the biggest moment in my life to this point: college.

My decision had been made about my future for years; it was now time to decide where it was I wanted to chase it. I had floods of mail from universities across the country making their claim as to why I needed to be a part of their college:

'You belong at ...”

'I'm interested in you!”

'Devin, you have great potential, and you'd fit right in!”

The amount of fan mail got to be a little overwhelming, and I faced the fact it was time to start narrowing it down and make my decision.

'Good morning, my name is Aiden and I'll be your tour guide today,” eagerly exclaims the student guide as we stroll to the heart of campus.

This is it, this is where I want to be. It doesn't get much better than this: beautiful campus and perfect program to pursue my passion. The gorgeous day - sunny, warm, a slight summer breeze, not a cloud in sight - adds to the overall aesthetic of campus.

Bradley has newly renovated facilities, a centralized campus and (very importantly) working air conditioning. As we meander through campus, I listen to Aiden talk about everything Bradley has to offer and I begin to realize just how fitting it would be for me.

'I have a friend who is a Sports Communication major, and he got to go NBC Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, during the Olympics. He made sure to send me pictures about everything he got to do; it made me so jealous.”

It's not every day you come across a college that has work experiences such as going on site to the Olympic Games or working with the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA.

'I'd definitely be doin' that if I got the chance to travel like that,” I chuckle.

I have factors I need to consider, though. I love Bradley, but don't want to be four-and-a-half hours away - away from family, away from friends I've gotten so close to over the years.

As I watch the swarm gather to take the field before the game, my stomach starts to flutter with excited energy like a flirty girl's eyelashes.

This is my favorite place on earth.

Kinnick Stadium has become the place I know as heaven on Earth. From the very first game I ever attended there, I grew up thinking I would someday be a Hawkeye. It was a euphoric, drug-like effect; the Hawks had me hooked, and I officially bled black and gold.

My parents explain to me that Iowa is not as good as Bradley for what I want to study, but it's a heck of a lot more affordable. Because I've loved the Hawkeyes for as long as I can remember, it wouldn't be a bad thing at all to end up in Iowa City. My whole family studied there, and my grandpa has had football season tickets since years before I was even born. We attempt to get to one or two basketball games each year as well. I've grown up with my life revolving around the Hawks.

'This. Is. SportsCenter. 'DA-DA-DAH. DA-DA-DAH.*

Every morning since I was 7 years old, I would eagerly await that startup music. It meant everything happening in the world of professional, collegiate and occasionally high school sports was about to be broadcast for a full hour-long morning news show. As I sat eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes watching the iconic Stuart Scott dish out his renowned catch phrases as highlights project onto the screen, I begin to think ...

... What if that is me some day?

Sports are my life.

My childhood was spent crawling around the living room pushing a football with my head and 'shooting hoops” into a plastic Little Tykes basketball hoop. When I started walking, I would throw any kind of ball around the yard with my dad. Gradually five feet became the whole yard, and the yard became the field.

I'd grown up with a love of football, and developed skills in basketball that progressed along with baseball. I threw myself into Park and Rec and middle school ball, then sliding into high school still involved in the trio of teams. And when junior year and the beginning of varsity athletics came into the picture, I made the decision to focus more on basketball and baseball. Considering what to do post-secondary, I realized my chances of actually playing college athletics was very slim; however, I wanted to stay actively involved in sports.

If I can't play sports, I can make a living writing and talking about them. I had finally determined what to do with my future. I will be a sports journalist.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME: the bold letters printed on the face of my acceptance packet spelled the words that resonate in my head every day.

'Dear Devin, Congratulations! You have been admitted to the Sports Communication program at Bradley University. Welcome to the Bradley family!” A beaming smile instantly formed across my face as I tried to process the words I just read.

I have just been accepted to my top choice school; this is really happening.

I struggle to hold in my excitement, even as I'm composing this. I've worked so hard through high school to be in the position I am right now. I'm going to be a Brave. After that, the next step is only as clear as I make it within the next four years.

I can see it already.

ESPN here I come!