For some people going away to college isn’t an option and I understand that, but for those who can, they are about to grow up and become a new person very quickly. Being in college for two years myself, I can barely remember the person I was when I walked the halls of my high school, and I am thankful for that. Some may say that the only difference between staying home for school and going away for school is that you have to drive farther, but the difference is much more than that. Going away to school was the best decision I ever made, and I have multiple reasons for that.
Being farther away from home makes you time manage all on your own. You don't have Mom, teachers or coaches making sure you get where you need to be. You do it. No one makes you go to class, no one is going to tell you to study or do your homework, so you need to do it and make sure that you get everything done.
You deal with a crisis by yourself. If you get sick, lose something, break something or whatever you have to deal with it on your own. I have gotten sick, and as bad as I wanted my parents to be there to just take care of all of it for me, and when my car broke down I had to make sure I got rides and I had to get people to help me out all on my own.
When you leave home, you realize how important your family is and you value them more. Being away makes you miss them and also gives you distance enough to not focus on the things that bug you. Going home is not dreadful, it's something you look forward to and something that makes you remember what you love most about being home. Whether it's the food places, the smell of your sheets, your dog or just the feeling of home, it's something that you can enjoy like a little getaway.
When you commute you don't fully get the campus life experience. You can always drive to campus for events, but you don't get the late night run through the halls playing ding dong ditch on your friends doors or the huge group conversations when everyone gathers in one room and chats about life. Campus events are always fun and are welcoming to commuters, but sometimes the unscheduled events are the most fun.
When you go away to school, you are pretty much forced to endure new experiences and that can be a good thing. You are forced to go out of your comfort zone and create a new you. You don't have to be the person you were at home or in high school. You are in a new town with new people, and it's all yours. It's yours to become whoever you want. Going away to school is worth the price.
