Let’s start at the beginning. OK, not that far back, but to when I first started thinking about what colleges to apply to.
I didn’t have any colleges in mind, but I knew that I wanted to go out of state. I should preface this by saying that I am very close to my family. Part of my reasoning for going out-of-state was to get away. I knew that if I didn’t push myself now, I’d get too comfortable and run the risk of only choosing paths where I felt secure. I knew that I would always be close to my family, that college is only one chapter of my life, and that this is the perfect time for me to try out going away before I become an actual adult when moving means a pretty significant move (considering I’d need a home and a job which are not easy to pack up and leave at times).
So I did it, I left.
Family
Family was extremely difficult to leave, especially when there was a little bit of pushback from a lot of my family who wanted me to stay. However, I knew that they would ultimately support me no matter what. I have no siblings but I do have wonderful cousins, all except one of whom are younger than me. I was nervous to leave them, I was worried about who would give them advice they claim they already knew or punch them when they are misbehaving. I had to wonder, what would I miss? I missed birthdays, first day of schools, recitals, games, award ceremonies, anniversaries, family get-togethers, etc.
Friends
When a majority of your closest friends stay in-state for college, the decision gets a little tougher. While it wasn’t a major factor for me, it did cross my mind as a major inconvenience, especially when there is a time difference between you. Skype calls become harder to schedule and constantly playing catch-up gets old, fast. Ultimately, you have to face the reality that you’ll end up losing touch with some people. Life happens and schedules get busy, but what you are left with, are the people who are willing to stick with you even when it isn’t convenient.
Hometown Conveniences
My dogs, my room, and so many other things become the things aside from family and friends that I missed. I missed the taco shop that had the best street tacos, I miss the mall that everyone complained about, I missed the beach, I missed the hidden gems that took years to compile, bottom line, I missed the familiarity. Every aspect of a routine was stripped away until I could rebuild my own.
Was it Worth it?
I’ve done a lot of complaining so far, but they are all real growing pains that I had to grow through. All that being said, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. So, was it worth only seeing family through a screen once a week, saying goodbye to your friends and actually meaning it for most of them, or being placed in a completely new environment? Yes, it absolutely was. I have met some of the most amazing, caring, intelligent, and genuine people whom I would never have met if I had not gone out of my comfort zone. I gained a sense of independence and confidence that I would not have gained if I hadn’t taken this leap of faith. Going to college out of state was an important step in my life, that I absolutely do not regret.
