This fall, my weekends were spent on the streets of Philadelphia.

Yes, we did win the Super Bowl, which I will gladly say any chance I get. Besides that, the leaves were changing and the seasonal depression was quickly setting in. The cold was always dreaded and the snow left my heart icy and my skin pale. Feeling as though I was always locked in my home, I needed somewhere to go.

College tours were run like the Septa schedule, continuous and monotonous. I spent afternoons considering every school lining the east coast. I looked for the perfect school that would kick-start my career and make me feel at home for the next four years. The only issue was that I didn’t want to stay on the East Coast.

Other than my love for the city of Philadelphia, I wanted nothing than to be in the warmth of a west coast paradise. I spent my childhood talking about how I wanted to go to college in California and I was never afraid to just pick up and leave.

After looking further into the journalism career, I stumbled upon the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communications, a part of Arizona State, and let me tell you, I never looked back.

Of course, I was intrigued by the palm trees and warm weather, but the school itself instantly caught my eye. Besides the modern architecture, the school was everything I was looking for in a college. After touring and falling in love, I knew Cronkite was where my future would take place. Once I was admitted into the program, my deposit was placed almost immediately and my future was set.

Now that I near graduation I find myself questioning how I am really going to travel the country in order to go to college.

Despite knowing that I craved the warm weather, how much would I leave home? I would be entering a completely new culture, not to mention a new time zone. As my high school days are counting down slowly, I fail to mentally prepare myself to leave my home and explore somewhere new. How does one prepare themselves to leave everything they are familiar with for something so polar opposite? Along with asking myself this on a daily basis, I have contacted some others who have done the exact same thing.

I asked everyone very similar questions: How do I deal with moving across the country? I’ll be leaving my home, family, friends, and the streets I am overly familiar with; how do I manage this change? Frankly, I was clueless as to how I would even get my clothes across the country. Not to mention, I did not even know how I would pay for airfare. Lost in a sea of questions, answers started rolling in slowly and my nerves began to calm.

How do I manage moving across the country? The answer was: you just do.

I know that doesn’t sound like a helpful answer at all, but if you were not ready you would not have sent in the deposit. Sometimes you just have to jump in the water feet first and know you will be able to swim. I would like to believe that if I wasn’t ready to go, my parents wouldn’t have let me apply in the first place.

Despite leaving everything I am familiar with, I know the streets of Downtown Phoenix will become as conversant as the streets of Philadelphia.

Change can be difficult but overcoming difficulties shows growth. Life is all about living, learning, and growing. I may get homesick time to time, but I know my family is right where I left them which can be that comfort I need.

You also cannot forget about the media and although it may seem as though you are moving to some alternate universe, you are not completely cutting off all interaction with family and friends. Through texting, calling, and overall media, it should not be too difficult to get in contact with family and friends at home.

As for getting my personal belongings there, they can just be shipped closer to move-in. The airfare will be a struggle but getting a job on campus is always a good idea. In order to pay for airfare, daily needs, and tuition, getting a job on campus is suggested. This also helps you familiarize yourself with the campus and make some friends along the way.

Speaking of making friends, many people struggle with the idea of going to college and completely restarting and making new friends. For some, like me, the idea of starting fresh was comforting. College is truly a fresh start where you can recreate yourself for the better and prepare yourself for the future.

On the contrary, others fear the idea of building a new life. Just remember that the future is in your hands; however, you decide how you want to portray yourself and the type of people you want to surround yourself with. Try to find the people who will help set you up for success or people who will aid in building connections in the future.

College is a great chance to recreate and grow. Whether it is beyond your state border or twenty minutes from home, college is your home for the next four years. The mentality you carry will sink you or help you float gracefully. I like to remember that home is where ever I make it.

Whether my bed is in Philadelphia or Downtown Phoenix, my family is just a call away. I can take the next four years to explore new territory and start off my future career in Arizona or I can stay in Pennsylvania and repeat the same agenda every day.

I choose warmth. How about you?