Leaving home for the first time is one of the scariest things to go through whether it's right after high school or when you are 38 years old. The good news is, however, we all have gone through it, or will one day, and we were also scared out of our minds.
1. “What if I get there, and the place is a complete disaster?”
As someone who has been on both sides of the having problems with their new place and being the one to help fix the problem, I can promise you that owners pride themselves in how their property looks. That being said, problems do arise with any place, and from my experience they more than happy to fix the problem because an unhappy tenant is unlike to return and recommend that place in the future.
2. “What am I going to do without my family?”
Now this is a hard one. Leaving your family is going to be hard especially if you’re a very close family. One thought to always remember is that you both have phones. The first few weeks you’ll probably be calling your parents at least once a day just to tell them you miss them. After those first few weeks however it does get easier, it just takes time.
3. “How am I going to meet new people?”
For those like me who have a little (or lot) of trouble meeting new people, this can be scary thing. The best thing to do is to not lock yourself in your new place "cleaning" or "studying," but to find an activity you like or coffee shop you like and talk to others with the same interest! Most likely they’re there for the same reason.
4. “What if my neighbors are loud and blast their music 24/7?”
Loud neighbors are the worst, especially with 8 a.m. class or the early shift at work. But if they get too bad, you can always try talking to them and if that doesn’t work, the RA or management at your place will take care of them.
5. “Is there going to be enough space for my stuff?”
As someone who has the tendency to over-pack, you will probably send some stuff back home unless you have your own place with plenty of storage. The best thing to think about when packing is "Can I live without this?" Another thing to remember is that there is always UPS or the holidays to get the stuff you did not bring.
6. “What if I can’t do this?”
The hardest part of any big change is the fact that failure is always there. Changes allow for us to grow and achieve more than we ever could staying in the same place. Without taking a risk by stepping out into this big scary world, you would miss out on memories and friendships that are waiting for you. Yes, it’s scary and nerve-racking thinking of leaving your comfort zone, but I promise you, it is worth it.
