1. You "responsiblity" really fast.
Let's be honest, doing your own laundry sucks. But you learn to be responsible real quickly and for some, this alone is why they leave. By the end of the year, you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment because guess what, you did it.
2. Moving away gives you a “clean start.”
This, in my opinion, is one of the biggest reasons why I left a tiny, dim-lit town in Pennsylvania. When you grow up, you do things and make decisions without realizing for how long they will follow you. But moving away, whether it's two or twenty hours, will give you the chance to begin again. It's a feeling that will let you start over, and the only difference this time is that you get to create your own story.
3. You feel empowered.
Breaking out of my routine was incredibly freeing. It was terrifying, scary and filled with a massive amount of anxiety and worry, but overall was something I think everyone should have the opportunity to do. Change really is good.
4. Getting cultured to the world around you.
Don't worry, no dining hall or food court will ever compare to mom’s cooking. You meet people from other countries every day, you see people eat food that you've never even heard of, and get a sense for the world around you.
5. Although home is nice, it will always be there and not much will change while you’re gone.
Whether it's a massive city or a tiny town, home will always be home and you can't change where you come from. The gas stations will look the same and you'll probably still recognize the people who work there, but you have to learn to separate yourself from where you grew up. At times it can be toxic and hinder your view of the world. So see something new or go to a place you've always wanted to go. Do it for you.
6. With that said, there is no place like home.
A lot of times, we want to leave where we grew up. We don't want to be at home anymore because we want some type of change. We want something new, fresh and exciting. The idea of college is huge and is something that will leave a mark on you forever. But home is where your bedroom is, and where your pets are. But most importantly, it is where you started. It's where you began and where you learned to ride your bike, where your childhood friends are, etc. Don't forget how important it truly is to appreciate those little tiny moments of "home."
7. Saying goodbye to your family gets easier every time.
I lied. Telling your nine year old sister that you'll see her in another five months will never get easier. But it's something you learn to deal with because it's part of the process of learning to be on your own and growing up. I never was able to say goodbye to my sister without tearing up, and clearly she couldn't either. Goodbyes suck and are painful, but in order to move forward, sometimes we have to distance ourself from people or places to move ahead.
8. The most important relationship in your life, is the relationship you have with yourself.
In high school, we would often wear what was popular, or what everyone else was wearing. College is different. You'll see a kid at Starbucks on-campus that you many never see again. It all depends on the size of your campus. But it's not about fitting in anymore. There is no such thing as "most popular" or the "cool kids." Do your own thing, boo.
9. You probably won’t know many people if you go far enough, so you'll make an insane amount of friends.
I met people freshman year who I consider to be some of the greatest and closest friends I've ever met. The freshman year laughs we shared were some of the hardest and most genuine laughs I've shared with anyone. You will network and make friends from all over the country and will create bonds that will last forever. I have become so good at being able to talk to people, whereas before leaving, I was too scared to speak. It's a major confidence boost and made me feel so much better about who I am.
10. There is always something going on.
You won't be bored anymore. There is always something happening on-campus. The basketball team may be getting a beating, or there might be a flea market or bake sale for your friend's sorority. Either way, you won't be bored anymore or struggling to find things to do. College is exciting. Go Greek, join a sport, create a club, something, anything. This is your time.
11. Some of your hardest laughs will be with people you never thought you’d meet in places you never thought you'd live.
But after all, isn’t that the fun of college?
12. You learn to follow your heart and trust your gut instinct.
I never thought I'd be able to do it in the beginning. When my mom got into the taxi to fly back home, I really thought I wasn't going to make it and was filled with fear and doubt. I stood and watched the shiny white 737 roar down the runway with my best friend seated in 21A and was left standing there wondering how I was going to live without my #1 fan right by side. But you learn to be ok, and open your horizons to new people and new feelings, which won't replace the ones you have but rather will show you sides of yourself that you hadn't see before. Your gut plays a major role in the decisions you make, and truthfully, you will miss your parents a lot.
13. Some lessons are learned the hard way, but usually those are the ones that change you for the better.
Your first year of college on your own is going to be filled with joy, excitement and lots of laughs. But it will be far from perfect. You're going to make decisions that you'll look back on and wish you can change. At times, you'll regret not thinking some things through, but overall those are the things that will teach you more then any textbook or homework assignment will. It's those small choices that will get you one step closer to the real world.
