College is a big change for everyone, whether they go away or stay home, but there’s just something special about going away that taught me something that no college course could ever teach me.
One of the most valuable things I have learned so far in college is the value of family. I was always the girl who was close with her parents, and didn’t mind staying in to hangout with my family or take my brother out to get ice cream, but being away from the people who raised you and grew up in the same home as you for the first time really puts it into perspective. You learn the real value of family time and you definitely appreciate what your parents did you for a lot more than you did in the moment. I love my mom and dad and honestly cannot thank them enough for the lessons they have taught me that prepared me to be away from home and function on my own. Even though I’m a lazy bum back at home, they pushed me to do certain things that made me the person I am today.
I was the girl who had a room so messy you couldn’t see the floor sometimes, and clean clothes were stacked so high on the back of my chair it was a mystery how it didn’t turn into an avalanche every time I sat down, and the bed that was never made. I took advantage of the fact that my mom was willing to pick up after me and as grateful as I am for that, I learned that she won’t always be there to do that, as well as do my laundry every week. Going away was an exact moment when my mom was no longer there to do so. I learned how to do laundry, and instead of leaving my clean clothes draped over my chair, they go right into the closet. Yes, obviously I miss not having to do the work, but its important to take responsibility, and it is extremely satisfying looking around your clean room and knowing you did it all by yourself.
One of the hardest lessons I learned while here in Buffalo was budgeting my money. I’ve had a job since I was a sophomore in high school, but even before that I always knew the value of a dollar. My parents gave me a lot, but they also showed me how to earn the things I want. I was always good with saving my money, as I bought myself my first laptop in fourth grade, but its been a lot easier saving when I had a source of income and a bit of pocket money from tips. I blew half my savings within the first half of my first semester away, thanks to Amazon Prime. I definitely learned the difference between wants and needs, and cannot wait to get back home for winter break to start rebuilding my broken bank account.
Although I shared a room with my sister from the time I was three to almost high school, living with a roommate has taught me a lot. When your roommate is your sister, its easy to do what you want and not have any real issues, but when you live with someone from a completely different town and now need to compromise, you learn a lot. I love my roommate and I’m so glad she is who she is. We get along and hangout almost all the time, but there are some moments where even living with your best friend could get difficult. Everyone loves privacy, and sometimes you have to compromise what you want to give your roommate some alone time in the room, but you know it’ll be worth it when it’s the other way around. You also learn how to share things more than ever, especially the space in the teeny tiny mini fridge.
As much as I miss home cooked meals, my family, and my big bed that’s not almost as tall as me, I wouldn’t trade where I am for anything. I love my school and am extremely grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned not only in my classes and about time management and the importance of sleep and studying, but about real life scenarios and how to cope away from the nest for the very first time.
