I was born and raised in the same small town in North Carolina, and that small town is all that I knew for 19 years. Getting the opportunity to choose where I went to college opened my mind to so many new places and schools, and I finally was able to find a school that was the right fit for me. I always knew I wanted to go out of state for college, but these are five things I learned after a year of being an out of state student.

A fresh start with a fresh mindset

Living in the same town my whole life, I went to preschool with the same people I graduated high school with. I knew so much about everyone in my hometown and they knew nearly everything about me. Coming to an out of state school, the past did not define me anymore. The new people I was meeting got to know the real me, not the old me.

Putting myself out there was harder than I thought 

I would say I am a decently outgoing person, but we all have our shy moments. I found that having to actually initiate conversation and meet people was harder than I figured it would be. I had to make an effort to make friends and to hang out with those friends on a regular basis. They were not just there in the hallways daily like high school. The way I met one of my best friends here was by going up to her and saying "Hi, we should be friends" and somehow it worked.

New places, people, and things

I had never been to a Kroger in my entire life before coming here. I had only seen horses on the side of the road before, and now I am spending my weekends at horse races. Coming to a new state comes with new chains, restaurants, and lingo, I was quickly able to pick up on the lingo and the newer places that I wasn't familiar with. But, going home is weird because no one knows what I am talking about.

I had to grow up quickly

Everyone in college goes through a transition period of growing up, but I feel when I was thrown into a whole new state, I had to adjust accordingly. I was forced to grow up quick and to be able to make my own decisions. No one is here telling me to do laundry, whether to go out or not, or to clean my room. My mom was not just right down the hall to help answer all my questions and problems. All of those decisions are on me now and I had to take care of myself by myself.

My hometown is not actually THAT bad

I complained and complained about how much I hated my hometown and how ready I was to get out. But, by being gone for nearly a year, I have realized that it isn't as horrible as I make it seem. Do I love it and want to move back there? Absolutely not. But, I appreciate what it gave me and how it shaped me into the person I am today

College is a time for everyone to find themselves and to mature, and I feel my adjustment to college and being out of state has forced me to do just that. Going out of state for college has made me the person I am today and got me to look forward to the future and not back at my past.