There are over 100 schools in New York state and I had no interest in going to any of them. In the process of applying for colleges, my top choices were the University of South Florida, University of Florida, and the University of Maine. The thing all three of these schools had in common? They’re all at least 300 miles from home, which is exactly what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong, Plattsburgh will always be my home, but it was time for a change. (Maybe more of a change than I expected)

1. You Can Become A Whole New Person

No one here knows anything about you. They don't know who you dated in high school, who you didn't get along with, or who your best friends were. Chances are, they don't even know your name. This is the perfect way to start over and become the person you really want to be.

2. Keeping In Touch With Friends Back Home Is So Important

Talking to friends back home helps you feel like you're still there with them. When you feel homesick it's good to know that your closest friends are only a FaceTime call away to help you feel better. Plus, you hear all the latest gossip, it's like nothing ever changed!

3. You Can't Go Home Whenever You Miss It

Most people who go to college close to home have the luxury of being able to drive home for the weekend just for the heck of it. People who go far away for college (1,419 miles in my case) aren't as lucky. Long weekends usually mean you're stuck in your dorm room while your friends are all going home.

4. Some Relationships Won't Last

You'll come to realize that some of the friends you had in high school you were only friends with because you saw them every day. People get busier schedules in college and it can be hard to keep in touch with everyone. It says a lot when someone doesn't check up on you and vice versa. Nobody is at fault here, it just happens.

5. You Learn To Appreciate Home A Little Bit More

It's not like I didn't appreciate being home before I left, but when you're far away from home you realize all the small things you didn't think you would miss.

6. Say Good-Bye To Your Favorite Local Foods

In the process of making friends, the question of "what's your favorite food?" seems to come up quite a bit. Of course my answer is always poutine. However, this answer then leads into a long description of what poutine is, which leads to getting emotional because of how much I miss it. Long story short, the everyday foods that are a typical thing back home can turn out to be non-existent and rare to find at your new school.

7. You Become Jealous Of Your Friends Who Stayed Home

They have the opportunity to go home and sleep in their own bed and eat all the poutine they want (and send you pictures of it). All your friends from high school are still hanging out together and you're miles away. Watching snapchat stories of them out together having a good time can make you feel like you're missing out.

8. Your Friends And Family Become Your Biggest Support System

If you forgot something at home your parents are always there to ship it to you. If you have questions about school and have no idea what's going on (let's face it, none of us do) your parents are always a phone call away to try to help and give you some reassurance that you are doing okay. If you just need someone to talk to then your friends are always the go-to people.

9. After All Is Said And Done, Everything Will Be Okay

It's okay to be overwhelmed, it's part of the experience. Having a strong support system is key in being okay with being far away from home. Home will always have a special place in my heart, but I'm happy with the choice I made.