"There's no place like home," Dorothy said as she clicked her heels together.

She was right, there is no place like home.

Home is where your family and friends are.

Home is where you feel comfortable.

Home is feeling safe.

Home is where the heart is.

The worst thing about that, though, is that it makes it hard to let go.

I have been blessed enough to have grown up in a small town in New Jersey. My town is unlike any other, due to the closeness and togetherness of the town.

Everyone knows everyone. Everyone knows your business. Everyone hears the latest gossip. And most importantly, everyone supports each other.

However, living in a small town is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing due to the unconditional love and warmth you get from everyone around the town. No matter what happens, everyone will have your back and support you. It is where you can feel safe and feel loved everywhere you go.

How could something so amazing also be a bad thing?

Well, it's just so hard to leave.

Some people may say, "I can't wait to leave this horrible place and move on."

While others dread thinking about moving on to a different place. Some adults went to high school in this small town and never left, and I feel like that will be me.

I found it very hard to graduate from my high school.

Although it is small and everyone knows your business, it's kind of a comforting feeling. If someone has something to say to you, no doubt there will be a person that has your back.

The teachers and even the principal become your best friends. You can go to them for anything. The classes are fun, and the school becomes a home away from home.

My biggest fear was graduating and leaving all of these amazing things that it brought to me.

Well, I graduated, and now I'm on my next step--moving on and doing something with my life.

Of course, I'm going to college next year, community college, but the hard part is all my friends will be miles and miles away. I spend almost every waking moment with my friends, and in a month I will be by myself.

My quaint town full of best friends will be empty, with just me standing alone. It is time for me to venture off and make new friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

But how?

How can I move on from all of the amazing things this town has brought to me--including my best friends?

How do I start over?

I'm finding it hard to find myself and step away from the community of people that surround me. They all give you such comfort that you become very dependent on everyone around you.

I can't even go to CVS, which is two minutes from my house, alone, let alone go off to college and be by myself.

I've never been very independent; I've always relied on others to help me along the way and guide me. Of course, it is okay to get help, but now I have to find my own way.

I have to make decisions for myself.

I have to learn things on my own.

(And yes, I even have to go to CVS without anybody there with me.)

This won't be an easy thing to do. While I love my small town, I also wish that it was not as amazing as it is, then it wouldn't be so hard for me to leave.

I am ready to take this challenge and become my own person.

I am ready to move on and (hopefully) become as independent as I can.

I am ready to do whatever it is to become successful and do amazing things with my life.

If it wasn't for my small town, though, I probably wouldn't be as encouraged as I am. I know that no matter what, I can always come back to my small, loving town and be reminded of where I started.