My sister and I did college differently. She went to Georgia while our family lived in New York, and I, well I went to many different schools, but the farthest I ever went was four hours. Am I sure some people will say four hours? That’s so far?! Of course, but my reply to that would be, no, that’s a comfortable distance.

Don’t get me wrong, I missed the hell out of my family. But four hours still gave me the option to come home whenever I wanted. It was a nice cushion. I knew my mom wasn’t showing up randomly to berate me on the disaster I called my room (love you mom!), and I could still go home for her chicken soup on the weekend if I wasn’t feeling well.

Let’s just say when I realized that four-hour drive was a piece of cake, I was home more often than my sister could be. It’s hard going across the country let alone a few states away. It’s certainly not cheap either, and we saw very little of each other. Coming home when you’re hundreds of miles away needs to be a planned trip. It’s not something you can do on a whim.

For most people college is the first time you’re away from home (if you go away), and it’s not necessarily easy. I’m sure you will get homesick, you will miss your siblings, your parents, the family pet and your friends. Some friend groups will split and go to entirely different states for school. You will essentially be throwing yourself into a whole new world, without knowing anyone or anything about where you are.

I attribute a lot of who I am now, to my first semester freshman year. While it still may not be ‘the real world’ because let’s face it, you’re living and existing with thousands of people your own age, it taught me a lot. And if you’re lucky your housing situation is like one never-ending slumber party. All in all, you really grow up.

However, in my opinion, by staying home for school you never get to become fully independent. If I choose not to eat for two days, no one is throwing a burger down my throat. I exist solely on the actions of myself, it’s called adulting. To be honest it’s kind of nice having that independence. No one knows where I am, what I’m doing, nothing unless I choose to tell them.

I’m saying that as someone who was raised with a fair amount of freedom as a teenager. My parents trusted me, and always knew what I was doing and who I was with, for safety reasons. For people with helicopter parents (you know who you are) go away to school! Don’t go crazy, though. Yes, you have the freedom you didn’t have in high school, but take it down a notch. Enjoy yourself, but before you do something insane ask yourself if five-year-old you would be proud of that. Or just imagine what your parents would think, and I’m not talking about partying I’m talking about being reckless.

Realistically, you’re an adult now. While no one in your family will regard you as one, the truth is you are. I mean you’ve learned how to make ramen in under a minute, that deserves praise. Most students go away to college in August or September. Usually, they’re away from their families until the end of the month when family weekend finally rolls around. You’ll look forward to this! This is where going to school near home is beneficial...

When your family lives really far, you can expect to be a part of your college BFF or roommates family for that weekend. It’s sad seeing everyone excited to show their families around, and you're stuck there mom-and-dad-less. Things could be worse. But, it certainly isn’t fun being away for months and waiting for Thanksgiving break to go home. Sure, it’s an exciting, anticipated homecoming, but who wants to be away that long?

When you’re a comfortable distance away it gives you a sense that you’re on your own, but you’re not stranded on an island by yourself. Anyway, this is the time to be who you want to be, and grow mentally, and emotionally. My advice is to go away to school no matter what. Whether you’re living on campus 45 minutes away, living two states away, or across the country, escaping the comfort zone of the home is an integral part of growing into yourself. Sometimes you just need to go home, when you’re sick of your home away from home.