Six months ago, I was almost shaking with nervous excitement. I was surrounded by almost 1,000 other students, none of whom I knew. I had been told college was going to be the best years of my life and I couldn't wait to begin them. Fast forward six months to today, and I have had such an amazing experience. I have met some of the nicest people and made some of the best friends. I walked in not knowing anybody and now everywhere I go on campus I see somebody I know. If I had stayed in my hometown, I never would have met these great people that have impacted my life.
Don't get me wrong; college is terrifying at first. The first night here I got almost no sleep because I was surrounded by strangers. I wondered if I was going to make any friends. I wondered if they were going to like me. But most of all I wondered if I would like it here. The homesickness hasn't been as bad as I thought; the trick is to stay busy. Traveling home on vacations can get tricky because of trying to figure out how to get home. (I took a bus once at 11:30 PM and got to my town at 4:30 AM.) And it can be expensive, but going to college out of state is so worth it. I have been exposed to so many amazing opportunities and have already made some great oppotunities after only one semester at college.
I loved every second of moving out of state. I got a fresh start. I was in a new place with nobody I knew. Having known the majority of my graduating high school class since at least middle school, I was ready to explore. I love my hometown and home state; but towards graduation, I felt trapped. I came to the realization that I needed to grow up and, in order to do that, I needed to go on my own. These months away from home have been the longest I have ever been away from my family, and it's been weird. I miss them, but I couldn't be happier that I am here at college. I was independent before I went to college, but now I can feel myself becoming an actual adult who is (somewhat) mature and can actually take care of myself. College is about finding myself; and I think that I've made progress, but I'm not totally there yet. Hey, I'm only a freshman.
I know everyone doesn't have the opportunity to go to college out of state. I am fortunate enough to have this privilege, but I encourage everyone to travel away from home on your own for a while. Sometimes to find yourself, you have to start over in a new place with nobody you know. You experience so many things that you would not have been able to do if you stayed home.
Going to college in a different state has to be one of the best decisions I ever made.
