This summer I decided to stay in Charlottesville to work and take some summer classes. It has only been a little over a week of being on my own and I can say without a doubt it is super weird being on my own like this.

I have to do things like grocery shop and live in a house without my parents for the first time for days and it is just so weird. Do I even know where anything is at in Kroger? Not at all. Do I even know how to get to Kroger? Nope. Does driving in Charlottesville stress me out to the max? Definitely. I literally don't ever really want to drive anywhere, because I have no idea where I am ever going.

Even through all of that stress, I see this summer as a time to grow I have never really had to worry about having food to eat or paying bills, but now that is something I have to think about with everything I do. I can't just go out and buy whatever I want because being able to pay my bills is much more important than anything else I may want. I used to be much better with money, but then as I got older there was always something else I wanted, and I had no self-control so of course, I bought it.

I hope that throughout this summer and being on my own I will be able to grow as a person, and maybe learn a little about adulting, but probably not a lot though. I also love having the opportunity of being able to get so much closer to my friends that are also here. Living in a house is an amazing way to build community with your friends and grow with them and closer to them.

I don't at all expect this to be an easy summer, but there is always a bright side. I can't say exactly how much personal growth will come out of this summer, but it will definitely be an interesting adventure. Even though I expect to grow and mature this summer, I also want to stay the "kid" that I am. There's no reason for me to grow up all at once and in one summer, it's a major process that is going to take some time. All though I will get impatient and frustrated and stressed, I know in large part it will all be worth it. This summer is a summer for growth.