College can be a very exciting, as well as frightening time for many. Whether you choose to go to school 5 minutes from your hometown or five hours from you hometown, it’s a completely brand new experience that impacts people in different ways. I chose to attend a college that is a thirteen hour drive from my hometown, and it has impacted my life in the most positive way I could’ve ever imagined.

Going to college far away from home has brought me so many joys and experiences I never would’ve had if I had stayed home for college. For one, it has shown me an area of the country very much unlike my hometown. That took some getting used to, going from small town to big city, but I consider myself blessed that I get to experience both lifestyles. Of course I love my quiet, quaint hometown, but the constant buzz of the city is spectacular and fascinating, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I get the best of both worlds!

Second, I have a whole new set of friends, completely separate from the ones at home. While it is comforting to go to college with the people you grew up with, there’s nothing like having two different sets of friends, one at home and one at school. It’s like having two families, across the country from one another. In addition, my school friends are from all around the United States, as well as all around the globe, and I love hearing about what their home lives are like. It brings a whole new level of diversity into my life that I never would’ve experienced had I stayed close to home.

Taking on the role of a college student forces anyone to become more independent, but when you don’t have the luxury of being a couple minutes/hours from your parents, it brings on a whole new level of independence. Although the homesickness gets difficult at times, I believe it has made me an even stronger person as a whole. I have become so much more responsible and self-reliant since the beginning of my freshman year. After this, I am confident I could succeed anywhere, and for that I am grateful.

It’s not for everyone, but going away to school was certainly the best decision for me. Although it’s just the beginning of what I know will be a wonderful summer at home, I know I’ll be happy as a clam in the fall to return to my home away from home, my university.