“ Excessive pride in one’s appearance or accomplishments “, that’s the definition of the word “ vanity “ that you are most likely to find in any dictionary. However, to add more depth to its meaning and clear the perplexity of this word, I define “ vanity “ as “ excessive pride in one’s appearance, accomplishments, or act in order to attract the desired attention “. No…I am not challenging the dictionary’s definition nor am I an English major genius. I am just trying to describe a word in a teenager’s perspective because “ vanity “ is what I go through everyday in my life.

Before entering junior year in high school, I have already made up my mind that I would never ever go to Rutgers University because it’s too close to my home. I thought about applying to colleges that are in California, Indiana, North Carolina, or anywhere else but in New Jersey, where I live, because I had the vanity that I thought going away from where I live can make me a “ cool “ person among all the seniors in my school; especially applying to famous party schools such as University of California at Los Angeles or University of Miami can make me seem more sociable. Unfortunately, my father made me go to Rutgers University because he simply can’t afford the money that is required if I go out of New Jersey. I was upset for a long time because I thought the “ cool “ image that I try to make for myself would be gone.

However, what changed my mind about going to a college that is thirty minutes away from my house is the financial letter that I received today. The amount of money that I received can cover my full year of tuition, room, and other fees; my parents won’t have the burden of paying so much money for my education and I can even join work-study program to earn money for myself. This letter is significant because it has awakened my immature mind and let me realized how immature I was for wanting to go to outer states’ schools simply because I wanted to be “ cool “. After reading the financial letter carefully few times, I am glad that I will be attending a college that I can afford, and the image of “ cool “ is the phase that I have grown out of. I can still study hard at Rutgers University and make many new friends just like I would do if I were to leave New Jersey.

In addition, I have asked many people about their opinions about Rutgers, many of them told me that Rutgers University provides one of the finest job-searching programs in the nation; therefore, I will not need to worry so much about being jobless after I graduate. I guess the decision that my dad made for me is all for my best. And I am looking forward for my new year in college.