Everyone wants to fly the coop and try something new in their life, and college happens to be the perfect time to do so. However, you also face difficulties when being away from home. You can't always get in your car, or hop on a bus and go home for the weekend.
You're more than a two-hour drive away. Don't forget anything when you go off to college, because it's not easy to get it back. I always end up over packing too, just to make sure I have everything but then I end up needing space to put it in, which I have none of in college.
You find yourself spending more money than other people. Your expenses add up between buying food to stock your room with, paying for a car to take you to the airport, or your train ride home. You spend money on whatever you left at home because you're convinced it's cheaper than having it shipped.
Finding a ride to your home, the airport, or the train station is nearly impossible. No one lives anywhere near you because they are all from the same hometown. And even if you do find someone who happens to have a car of some sort, your flight doesn't match their schedule and you're left to call a taxi and sit through an uncomfortable ride.
You get homesick easier than you want to admit. I always told myself that I couldn't wait to move out, go to college and be on my own. But the more I think about it the more I begin to doubt if the decision was a good idea. You worry that you made a mistake, or that you aren't living up to the expectations that you set for yourself.
Goodbyes are 10 times harder. Every time you say goodbye and get on that long journey back to college another tear is shed because you know it'll be another 3-4 months before you can see your family or friends again.
You can't visit your college friends that easily because it costs too much money. You always see the videos of the besties from high school surprising each other with visits while they have a long weekend, or are just missing some good friends. However, when you're so far away, it's not as easy to create a surprise trip, and even if you can... you're a broke college kid. How much are you really willing to spend?
As much as it sucks, not being able to see your family or your friends as often you'd like, you know that it is important to make each moment that you spend with them memorable and amazing.
And hey, in the end, you have plenty of stories to share with your new friends because you know they haven't experienced what you have, and they are always open to share their stories with you too.
Being out of state sometimes has it struggles, but I wouldn't trade it in for the experience that I've had, and for the people that I have met along the way.
