College is an incredibly amazing journey whether you move away or go to a local one. I chose to go away to college which means I have to live on campus. I/m not going to lie, I was kind of scared at first. I mean not only is college a huge step but so is basically moving out. Over the summer, I didn't really think about it because I never thought it would get here, but it did and on August 22 I took the majority of my belongings and packed them into my car and set off toward my future.
I only live about an hour and a half away from home, which is close enough that I can still go home but far enough away that I'm in my own little world. I live in a dorm, and I have a roommate. Typically in high school, you hear so many stories from older kids who have already been in college saying that it sucks living with someone you don't know. But I got lucky, my roommate and I get along very well. We have very similar tastes and, in some sense, we are the same person. My RA is awesome and is basically like an older sister. If I have any questions, I just go to her and she can give me an answer right then and there. She can also help calm any kind of stress I may have about anything college related.
At first, I was so scared to be living on campus because like most kids my age we've always kind of lived according to our parents schedules. They've always been there and now for me all of a sudden they weren't. After getting everything into my dorm room, they would be making the hour and a half long drive back to Guntersville, my hometown but I would not. This tiny room for two had become my new home. In a sense I was completely alone, none of my really close friends decided to come to Jacksonville. My roommate was off doing sorority recruitment so she wasn't there while I unloaded all of my stuff. I was terrified.
Thankfully Jacksonville was prepared and had activities planned for the next few days to help keep all of us occupied before we started classes. To kind of help ease the tension of the new year and well basically new everything. After a little time had passed the fear finally subsided and I realized that this was the beginning of my future, I realized that I was finally moving forward.
Since that day so long ago when my parents dropped me off I have made so many friends. Some I am sure that will be around for the majority of my life. Since living on campus, I've learned that all of us here are in the same boat in a way whether we are a freshman or senior. All of us are just trying to get through this so we can start following our dreams.
Now while living on campus is great, it kind of has some set backs but very few. I only have very few places I can park, which means I have to walk, but hey I don't have to worry about the dreaded "Freshman Fifteen." Other than parking and all the walking, it's great living on campus. I get to discover who I am away from my hometown and all the drama that goes on in small towns. It didn't really change much. I left one small town for another, but this one has a much better atmosphere. Plus, I've made so many new friends in just a few short months since packing up the past eighteen years of my life.
