Most college students look forward to the end of the semester, when they can go home and spend time with their family and high school friends again. The comfort of returning to something familiar at the end of a stressful year is what pushes us through the stress of finals.

But what if you didn’t go home for summer?

I went to school an hour from my hometown, meaning home was never far away. I’ve stayed in this little bubble of mine my entire life, and this year I decided to spend my summer three thousand miles away from home — and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Packing up your car and driving away from your family and friends is terrifying, yet amazing. I was scared and nervous as I left everyone I knew behind, and it only got worse the farther away I drove. What if a family emergency happened? How would I get home? What if I hate my roommates? What if something happens to me while I’m there? What if I hate the city I’m living in? The list of worries goes on.

When I got here, I walked into an apartment full of people I had never met before, and they’ve become some amazing friends. I’ve gotten to see and do things I never thought I would ever get to; and the fact that I’m doing it on my own is all the more empowering.

Spending a summer away from home teaches you independence— more independence than going away to college teaches you. I’ve learned more about living on my own in the last month than I have in my two years at college; any situation that life throws at me from here forward I know that I’ll be able to handle.

By spending a summer in a new city, there is so much to explore. New restaurants and scenery, events and people — the list of things for me to try and do are endless and exciting. Moving farther away from home has sparked a travel bug inside of me, and I’m already planning more trips for next summer.

But most importantly, I’ve found spending a summer away from home allows me more time for my own self-care. Not having anyone to answer to but myself allows me to take time when I need to, and focus on myself more than I have time to during any summer at home. Between working, family commitments, and events with friends, summers at home are never as relaxing as they need to be.

If you’re looking for an internship next summer, consider looking outside of your hometown (or college town). Leave your mind open to new possibilities and places to spend your summer. You don’t need to go home to your high school bedroom after a day working at your local mall next summer, you can spend it exploring and learning about a new city. Even if you can only move a few hours away from home, consider it — I promise you, you won’t regret it.