Your first year of college is the toughest year you can have in your life. If you are experiencing it right now, I know the feeling. Despite it's being hard, it is also the best one too. It takes time to realize it because being away from home is sad. It is even worse if you have a big family (like me) that makes reunions all the time, and friends that are

inseparable with you. Some days when you are having a bad day or you are just sad, you remember your family and friends are the ones that would always welcome you, and you’ll always feel yourself around them. “There is no place like home!”

On my first year of college, I was so excited. First of all, I am from Nicaragua so studying in the United States was totally a new world for me. And second, I was going to live by myself at just 18 years old. How cool does that sound? Who would not like that? But not everything is as it seems to be.

My first month was the worst, I did not make any friends; which was something weird for me. I was always being the most sociable girl and in fact, on the first day of school, I talked to all my classmates but they did not seem to want a friendship with me. So, I thought the problem was in me, that I am not as sociable as I think I was. The fact that I was not having friends was killing me and made me miss home a lot more. I cried for days at my bedroom feeling lonely, and my roommate was not helping me because she also did not want to talk to me. I was not used to this new life where I did not go out every Friday or having my nephews or nieces destroying my mom’s living room. I missed all that. I missed even my most annoying brother! And the food, how can I forget my moms food (practically the thing I missed the most)! I was totally in the homesick stage.

As the year went by, I started to realized that it was just a matter of time that I was going to make friends and like the life on my own. I was starting to feel independent and powerful. A class that was about managing your success helped me a lot with my problems. My professor was like a psychologist and she even took the time to speak with me about what was going on and she gave me advices that I still have on my mind. She said to me, “At the end, I choose the life I want to live and it is my choice whether I want a happy life or a sad and depressed one.”

College changed my life in so many ways, and I am glad it did! I was living on my moms wing and never realized how the real world is. I have learned a lot of things about life by just living by myself. I've learned how to take responsibilities, like paying insurance, do my bed, cook, clean the house, and how to take care of myself. Even though I do not have my mom in here, I am able deal with my problems in daily life.

Nowadays, I love the life I live. I am working part time, studying, have a good GPA, and also have friends! I still miss my home, and everyday, I think of my beautiful Nicaragua, but I know this is just temporary, and I am glad my friends and family at Nicaragua they support me in everything I do. So, if you are experiencing the homesick stage, I advise to you to always look at the bright side of everything and do not forget this is a stage of life. It is completely normal and in the end, everything will turn out well. Live the college life! Have fun and do not forget to study!