Maci Dorshorst left the familiarity of Scottsbluff to study accounting at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Coming from a graduating class of more than 200 students to a freshman class of 4,734, she arrived on campus ready for something new but unsure what to expect.
"The first time I visited Nebraska, something just felt right to me, and the College of Business Honors Academy really sold me because I knew it was a great opportunity to challenge myself," Dorshorst said.
She prepared extensively in high school. As DECA president, she competed in accounting, financial consulting and personal finance, qualifying three times for international competitions in California and Florida. Through the Scottsbluff Career Academy, she also took accounting courses at Western Nebraska Community College, where she discovered her interest in working with numbers. She later completed a college marketing course to continue testing her skills.
"When I moved to Lincoln, the campus seemed so much bigger," Dorshorst said. "Many things were different from Scottsbluff, especially the culture. I very much felt like a fish out of water."
As one of 44 students in her Nebraska Business Honors Academy cohort, Dorshorst met classmates at the college's Back to School Bash, attended a retreat with team-building activities and campfire gatherings. She also joined thousands of freshmen for the Husker tradition of forming a large N on Tom Osborne Field in Memorial Stadium.
During those events, she noticed many students from larger schools already knew each other and were talking about their Advanced Placement classes and other big city experiences. Her confidence began to waver.
"Coming from a small town and being in the Nebraska Business Honors Academy was very overwhelming at first. Students from Lincoln and Omaha have been surrounded by this atmosphere their entire lives. I had just gotten here and didn't know if I belonged," Dorshorst said.
She shared her concerns with Erin Burnette, director of the academy, and Becka Neary-DeLaPorte, assistant director.
"One of the things I appreciate about Maci the most is how she approaches most situations with curiosity and patience as she evaluates how to navigate them, and her own transition to college was no different," Burnette said.
Through their conversations, Dorshorst realized she was experiencing the same self-doubt, also called imposter syndrome, that many students face during the transition to college.
"Maci was good at everything and because of that was held to a very high standard, which built a critical inner voice," Burnette said. "As she began to navigate a new environment and new relationships, that criticism got in the way of her understanding how special, talented and unique she is. We talked through strategies so she can believe in and harness her strengths to create more positive self-talk and work to give herself the same patience and kindness that she gives to others."
Burnette also encouraged Dorshorst to connect with Hope McDonald of Rockville, another academy student from a small town. They became close friends and study partners.
“We have every single class together, so becoming friends was helpful for both of us,” Dorshorst said.
She pushed herself beyond academics as well, joining a pickleball league despite never having played, and attending her first Husker volleyball and men's basketball games. Each new experience gradually built confidence and the campus that once seemed intimidating began to feel familiar.
Now, she encourages other students, especially those from smaller communities, to keep an open mind as they transition to college.
“It only seems too big at the beginning, but once you get into your classes and meet the people that you really enjoy spending your time with, you realize it's not as big as it first seems,” Dorshorst said. “You can find your place and do great things at Nebraska."
