It’s finals week. That means summer break is just around the corner. My friends are packing boxes, moving out and getting ready to fly across the country (or world) to begin their summer adventures. It's been 30 weeks of lectures, projects and exams, and everyone’s brain is on the midst of some sort of mental breakdown or mental breakthrough. So, the University blesses us with three months to—for lack of a better phrase—figure our shit out before the cycle starts all over again.

For some, this means hopping on a plane for seven hours for a cultural immersion outside of the U.S. Students are volunteering on mission trips, touring Europe with family, investigating for research proposals and starting their adventures studying abroad.

For a few unlucky souls, this is no break at all, but instead an opportunity to spend 10 more weeks inside the classroom while the rest of their peers explore and enjoy the warm weather and freedom from textbooks and exams. Yes, I am talking about the dreaded summer school, and I am sorry if this applies to you.

For most of us, summer break means trying to figure out how you are going to make up for all of the money wasted on late night fast food cravings and Mystery shots at the bar. Whether you scored an awesome internship or are working two jobs taking orders and scooping ice cream, you are excited to finally earn some cash without watching it evaporate from your bank account faster than you can say "just one more drink."

For me, this summer break means the unknown. I am 1,002 miles away from home with no plans. I am relying on a retail job, my trusty 2003 Honda CRV and the mountainous landscape behind me. Moreover, this means a lot of exploration, independence and far too much free time. I am spending three months in a land-locked state that I have seen so little of, and I could not be more pumped. This is my chance to climb mountains (literally and figuratively), to try something new and to enjoy the little joys in life before the real world hits.

Don’t get me wrong, I am terrified. This is the first summer of my life I am not spending at home where I get to appreciate the comfort of home-cooked meals, free rent and my childhood best friends. I am certain I will miss everything summertime Chi has to offer: watching the sunrise over Lake Michigan, stuffing my face with Portillo’s cheese fries every chance I get, the weekly Navy Pier fireworks, late night froyo runs with my besties, even the drives to O’Hare airport to pick my dad up after a business trip. But, I am going to tell you why it is OK to sacrifice your favorite hometown traditions for something new and ambiguous.

1. It is OK to do something different and uncomfortable.

As much as you will miss all of the exciting events you grew up taking part in, you will find new, entertaining activities to participate in. Wherever you are, there will be opportunities you never had in the past. Stepping out of your comfort zone will teach you a lot about yourself and the world. There is so much diversity around us; we just need to dive in head first into new experiences every once in awhile. Maybe you will fall in love with a new hobby like dirt-biking or find a new favorite coffee shop along the way. Regardless, you will walk out of this new experience with newly discovered insight whether small or large-scale.

2. This is your chance to make new friendships.

I promise your true childhood best friends will still be there for you; they will still love you, and if you do make a trip home they will make time for you. So, do not get caught up in the friendships you have already formed. Instead, take this time to develop and create new friendships and connections somewhere new. You can never have too many friends, so why not find auxiliary, exciting people to surround yourself with. The cool thing about memories is that they are always there--you can always add to your mental scrapbook without taking away from the past. Hey, you might even meet your future husband, business partner, or bridesmaid if you just take the time to shake a hand or two. Go say “Hello” and seek out relationships with the new people you come into contact with. Future you will be grateful you did.

3. You are not missing out on anything.

You may feel jealous when you see the Snapchats of your friends watching the same Fourth of July fireworks you have been going to watch since middle school or when you get the the picture message of your family celebrating summer on your aunt’s boat, but that just goes to show nothing has really changed. Your friends and family are all spending their summers the same way they did last year and the same way they will next year. You will go home to see, for the most part, everyone and everything is exactly the way you left it. So, missing out on one or two fun nights does not mean you never will get the chance to partake again. The new experiences you are gaining are more memorable in the long run.

4. Learning independence isn’t easy, but it is a beneficial quality to have.

Spending time doing something different than normal puts you at an advantage to learn how to deal with tribulations in life early on. You will have to fend for yourself and deal with challenges head on, often alone. You will realize that solutions are not always immediate, but you will be so impressed with yourself the first time you successfully cook chicken without calling your mom or the time you fix your first flat tire without your best guy friend’s help. Ultimately, you have the reins on your life; you get to make the decisions, and you will to screw up all the time. The ability to be independent will allow you to steer life in whatever direction you desire on your own.

5. You are at a perfect age to reflect.

Being somewhere different than usual will likely give you a lot of free time and sometimes maybe too much. It will get lonely, but this is the perfect opportunity for reflection. I believe that a few hours in nature with a pen and a paper is all you need to learn who you are as a person. The thoughts in your mind are there for a reason, and sometimes we all just need to let them escape. Time alone in an unfamiliar place is a perfect scene for those self-actualization moments. Learn about yourself and you will feel better looking the future straight in the eyes with conviction.