It’s a scary thought – moving away – and I didn’t think that it would be something I would ever have to worry about as an eighteen-year-old college freshman.

When I discovered the opportunity to work 350 miles away from my home, I hadn’t expected to apply. I would be working over the summer, in a tiny little town called Medora in western North Dakota, and living in the dorms with the other college-aged employees.

After spending a school year living in a dorm, I would be sending myself off to live in another one, and then repeat it as the next school year came around. If I applied, then I risked not being able to see my family or live at home for the summer.

My father encouraged me to apply, to take a chance and try something new, and I seriously thought about it for a while.

I went back and forth, weighing the pros and cons, and two days into my second semester of school I sent in an application.

I had my friends around me as I sat out in the hallway on the floor, filling out the application. They were there to witness me let out a nervous squeal as I clicked send.

By doing this I was signing my life away for the summer.

I wouldn’t be going up to Colorado to see my mom, and I wouldn’t be in Fargo, ND with my dad and brother. I was leaving my family behind, risking not seeing them for months at a time, but something inside of me told me that was okay.

When my application was accepted, I didn’t feel fear or regret, I was happy.

I was going to be working in a town that I had very strong and positive memories in.

Medora was always a promised trip in the summer with my family. Salt water taffy, the giant playground, and all the ice cream I could eat before going to see the musical that was all about the great state that I grew up in. So, I knew that working there wasn’t going to be an issue, for it was a place that I truly loved.

I was going to be pushing my limits a lot, but the same thing happened when I decided to live on campus for college. It’s a learning experience, and as much as I’m going to hate going into it, I just have to trust the outcome is going to be a positive one.

I’m moving out over the summer, I’m going to be completely on my own, and that terrifies me.

But everyone is going to face things like this in their lives, they’re going to be tested and questioned on whether this is something they really want to do. If I don’t like working in Medora, then I know that’s not the place for me, and I know to stray away from that path. But, if I do, then I’ve learned something.

Sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the big picture, and then when you’re done looking, you go back in and you make your decision.

For me, that was pressing send.