Growing up is scary. At 18, you're expected to leave home and go somewhere new for school. You also need to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Another change that will eventually happen is you spending the entire summer away from home for the first time.
I'm not talking about summer camp staying away either. I'm talking about "it's time for a new job that can probably pay off some of those college debts" staying away. That was me this summer.
Being away for a whole summer after you spend the rest of the year away at school is definitely an adjustment. If you think being away at school teaches you all you need to know, you have another thing coming.
The first thing I learned was how to pack properly. Or not. As summer is almost over, I realized how much I overpacked. As I was in some form of a uniform every day, packing almost my entire closet was a huge mistake. When you're going to be in a small room for the whole summer, remember to pack only what you need. Don't do those "what-if" scenarios. It takes up too much space.
The second thing I learned is to go out and meet people. That's probably the biggest thing I absorbed. It can be hard when you don't know anyone to just sit inside and watch Netflix. Believe me, that's no fun. Go out and take chances. You'll meet people you never expected and experience things you never have.
You're going to miss your family and friends. This goes without a doubt. It's a different feeling from being at school. At your university, you are almost always with your friends. Now, you're starting off somewhere new with no one familiar. It's completely okay to miss your parents and friends. It's alright to call your parents every day or even a couple times a day.
In the end, you're going to love your experience. This is the biggest thing. While it may seem miserable and drag on, when it's almost over you'll realize how much you're going to miss everyone you've met. Chances are, you may even want to do it again! This is the summer that's going to teach you that it's okay to be away from things that are familiar. It's okay to feel uncomfortable trying something different.
While it may be hard to be away from home for the summer, it may just end up being one of the best things you do. Between the people you meet and the experiences you face, you won't regret the summer of learning and growing.
