I boarded the 6:30 am outgoing flight with a one way ticket to Phoenix, Arizona. Nervous and excited, I wiped the tears from my face and found my seat in 5A. Why was I crying? This was supposed to be a happy moment. I was finally moving to my dream destination of Tempe, Arizona which I had been anticipating for months. I was so filled with emotion, and it all seemed to be hitting me in the face all at once. If I could ever describe a moment where I felt extremely happy and sad at the same time, this would be it. I was ecstatic to be starting my new journey but the thought of leaving my family and friends pulled at my heart strings. Back in March, I had visited my friends on spring break who attend Arizona State University and I instantly fell in love with The Grand Canyon State. From that visit, I planned on transferring from my previous University to start a new journey in Arizona. What I have learned in these three short months some 3,000 miles away from home have taught me a great deal about myself, friendships, family, and life.

1. Stay Connected

When moving to a new place it can be easy to be consumed with a whirl-wind of new activities and responsibilities. Moving in, making new friends, learning a new school, and finding a job can take up a majority of your time. It felt like I was going non-stop for the first month I was out here. Between my school work, settling in to my apartment, and checking out the weekend hot spots, the first month felt like it was 3 seconds long. It can sometimes lead us to put our family and friends at home on the back burner. Maintaining relationships is imperative because it allows your loved ones to “see” what is going on in your life and also in theirs. Texting is a great way to stay in touch, but nothing beats a phone or skype call to really engage in conversation. Hearing a familiar voice or seeing a familiar face is a great way to feel comforted.

2.You Will Get Homesick

I don’t know how many times I denied to my friends and family that I wouldn’t get homesick. Guess what? I did, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Once the hype of feeling like you’re on vacation wears off, homesickness sets in. It is one of the worst feelings in the world, but, you learn to deal with it. Staying connected to my friends and family was a great way to overpower my homesickness. To avoid home sickness I have learned to stay busy and surround myself with positivity. I am fortunate to have friends from back home that live here. Seeing familiar faces helps to reduce that feeling of wanting to jump on the next plane home.

3. You Will Become More Independent

At my previous college I had the luxury of only being two hours away from home. Running low on food for you and your roommates? Drive home for the weekend and let Mom cook meals for the upcoming week. Car making a weird sound? Come back to town and let dad have a look at it. Being 3,000 miles away means you know exactly when you can come home, which is usually only major holidays. Unless of course, if you have $600 to lying around every time you want to visit home. But let’s be real, we’re college students. Splurging means buying the extra-large box of Ramen Noodles. Dealing with struggles or situations yourself where your parents would normally step in makes you more responsible and prepares you for the real world. Mom and dad won’t always be there to hold your hand when the going gets tough. Being independent may be tough at first, but trust me, it makes you stronger and is well worth it.

4. Take Advantage of Opportunities

Your friends ask you to go camping in Havasu Falls? Do it. They ask you if you want to road trip to The Grand Canyon? Do it. Go three hours to Rock Point for winter break? Do it. Like Nike says “Just Do It.” Opportunities like this don’t come around often. It is important that you experience all that you can now while you’re in college because you may not have these same chances later in life. Traveling to different places has several benefits. It allows you to disconnect from your regular life, relax, increase your knowledge, widens your perspective, and makes memories that last a lifetime. Take opportunities while you are young or you may regret it.

5. It’s Never Too Late For a Fresh Start

Starting fresh in a new place allowed me to reevaluate the things in my life that needed improvement. In the past I settled for mediocrity. In the past three months since moving to Arizona I have become the best version of myself. I have drastically improved my grades and have motivated myself to get the most out of life. There are so many new experiences and opportunities to take on. Starting over helped me get out of the rut I was stuck in. This new start is putting me on the path to achieve my dreams I have always wanted.