I have yet to experience something as emotionally provoking as moving away from home, which for me, meant a move to college. One day I was beyond excited, packing my bags and ready to move on with my life, and the next, I was sitting on my bed in the room I had always known, questioning why I would ever want to leave home. The whole process was nothing short of your typical thrill ride:

High Points

The freedom.

You go from running on everyone else's time — your high school teachers, your parents, your coaches — to running on your own time (with the exception of your professors, and half of them couldn't care less if you showed up, since it is your grade, after all). Think about it: three months ago you had to ask to go to the bathroom and now you're eating french fries for breakfast at 2 p.m., and that's a beautiful thing.

You meet people from all walks of life.
You get the chance to talk with all kinds of people, those who may have traveled more than you, seen more, learned more, experienced more. Listen to what they have to say. Just because they aren't a professor doesn't mean you can't learn from them.

You can start over.

You can walk onto campus and not know a single person, meaning you get a second chance to make a name for yourself. Formally known as the nerd in high school? Let loose, go party and take a break from studying. Used to be referred to as the problem child? Pull your act together, listen in class and get straight A's. This is your chance to become whoever you want to be in this world.

You're taken more seriously.
You get to make decisions that will completely affect your future and ultimately shape who you become. Sure, it's a lot of pressure, but that's life. It's a proud moment when people start seeing you for the adult you're becoming and not the kid you once were.

Low Points

Homesickness.

I'm a real homebody, and my family and I are incredibly close. We find any excuse we can to get everyone together, whether it be a birthday, holiday or just a Sunday afternoon. I knew that by going away I wouldn't be around for a lot of that, which was hard enough. On top of that, I had to learn to find comfort within the four quiet walls of my dorm room, as opposed to the big, loud home I was used to.

You leave your friends behind.
The best friends you've had all your life who have never left your side suddenly become your "home friends." But we all know they're so much more than that; they were your playground play dates, your middle school locker buddy, your sushi date after school and your Friday night sleepovers.

Lots of change.

I don't handle change well at all; I actually live for routine. But with moving four hours away from home comes plenty of change and an obvious break in routine. I had done basically the same thing for the last 12 years I was in school: class, homework, cheering practice, sleep, repeat. So, to have that all end and change so abruptly threw me off. I had to adjust to the new routine that would be the next few years of my life.

The "see you laters."
I have a feeling saying goodbye will never get easier. I spent the entire summer by my boyfriend's side, going to the beach, watching movies, cooking and baking, and always smiling. So to think that the next week I have with him will be the last for the next few months is nothing less than unsettling. I have to get used to the fact that my best friend isn't a short five-minute drive away and learn to appreciate our long-distance phone calls.