College is hard! It’s rough the first year, but it gets so much better after your freshman year. I could’ve gone home after a rough semester, but that thought never crossed my mind.

Because going away to college is good for you.

It doesn't matter if you move 15 minutes away from your family or if you still have to live at home for financial reasons — try something new, make new friends and leave your high school and hometown drama in the past!

I’ve grown so much because I moved somewhere where I didn’t know anyone. Living in a dorm builds character! Having a random roommate made me more tolerant of people who aren’t the same as me and having to make all new friends helped me learn to be there for myself sometimes.

You need to leave your parents and what’s familiar at some point. High school was great, but I was over it the second I moved to college. High school doesn’t matter at all.

I’ve been in college for two years now and I’ve changed so much. I’m the same at my core, but I’m happier with myself and I’m figuring out who I am.

When I graduated high school, I thought I knew everything. I thought I had the world figured out — I had a rude awakening to come. The first weekend of college before my classes even started I realized that I didn’t know anyone except my two suitemates I had just met 24 hours ago. This was good for me.

Even though I called one of my high school best friends crying that weekend first weekend thinking that I wouldn’t make any friends and I wouldn’t be happy — a week later I loved the city I was in and I made so many great friends.

Putting yourself out there and being out of your comfort zone is GOOD FOR YOU.

Being afraid and being worried about the unexpected is good for you!

I have no clue how you can ever grow if you don’t break out of what’s normal to you, so move out of this small town and be scared of the unexpected!!!

Change is good for you!

I’m not living my life in the past. High school is over and it’s nice to come back here. I'm thankful for people I'm still friends with, it's nice to catch up with everyone, we’ve all changed and that’s OK. I’m happy to see everyone, but I've moved on to a new chapter in my life!