Growing up is a bittersweet, emotion-filled ride through life. Every day is an opportunity to learn and prosper. As a young adult, we all reach the time where we need to leave the nest. Deciding to move out for the first time can be scary with all the, “what if,” possibilities, but I have discovered that there is no better time to grow individually.
Decorating your new home, the feeling of independence and endless amounts of alcohol are all desirable when thinking about moving out. Then there is the thought of what will happen if you forget to pay your rent, who’s going to cook you dinner, or what happens if there’s a spider? Suddenly growing up seems tough. However, I think that taking the leap to move out and believing in yourself can teach you more than you more than you think. For me, college was the push I needed.
College can be that opportunity for many people. You can go anywhere in the world, literally. You have the opportunity to create your own life. Find your own coffee shops, make your own traditions and start developing the life you want to live. Living in the dorms can be a good stepping - stone for many students. They provide assistance for any area you may need help with while learning to be independent. Everyone is just as confused as to how the real world works as you are, so there is a sense of comfort in that.
With endless amounts of freedom, it is easy to get off track from your priorities. This being said learning to manage all aspects of your life whether it is schoolwork, a social life, working a job, extracurricular activities, owning a pet or your funds can be complicated. With complications in life there is a constant sense of accomplishment each day when you realize you’re doing everything the right way – and on your own!
As a woman, I think it is extremely important to learn to live alone. It is a valuable lesson to know that you can survive without the help of anyone else. I know many girls who have gone from living at home with their parents directly to living with a temporary boyfriend and when things fail, they feel lost because they have never figured out how to be on their own. They feel that they have nowhere to go and don’t know how to approach this situation; whereas, a woman who has taught herself to do things alone wouldn’t feel as lost in this situation.
In college life is about YOU. This is the only time in life that we have to be selfish. Everything we do should be done to directly benefit our future and well – being. Therefore, I think that deciding to move out for the first time is one of the best choices that one can make in order to fully take charge of their own life.
