Graduating, for some people, means they can get as far away from high school as possible. For many, going out of state for college sounds fascinating and exactly the fresh start they want. Nevertheless, there are some hard things no one tells you about going out of state for school. It doesn't matter whether you're one state away or on the other side of the country, here are some of the difficult things everyone should know when leaving your home state for school.
You will feel like you are missing out on life at home.
This can be the hardest for people with a really strong and tight group of friends back home. If your friends all seem to go to school near each other or stay together at the closest local school, often times you will feel like you are not as close with them. It'll feel like you're missing out on the memories they are making instead of being part of the group you were in high school. Outside of friends, if you have younger siblings, like I do, it might be hard feeling like you are missing them grow up because it is not easy for you to be there.
Remember these things are okay; you are learning to make new memories and grow on your own. They may feel like they are missing out on your life, too.
Getting home is not always convenient.
Usually going out of state means that you will not be able to go home when you feel like you just need a break. After a hard week of exams, papers, events, and just life itself, you cannot go home like your friends who are only an hour away. Missing your family and your pets is something that will hit you hard when you need that support and love from home most. Hearing your friends talk about how great it was to have a break at home with their friends and family, and seeing your other friends doing the same on social media will be hard to watch when all you want is your own bed and your parents’ home cooking. These times will be when you question most whether you made the wrong decision to go far from home.
These are hard to do, but try to find a place on campus or a group of people where you feel most at home. If you have close friends, go home with them if you are really looking for a home cooked meal. If all else fails (and you have a car) make that long trip home. It will be worth it.
Somewhere else will be where you consider home.
Going back to your hometown will not feel like it did when you lived at home. You will tell everyone about the fun things to do in your college town and where you eat and what your friends are like. You will miss it as soon as you leave because you love being there and that is where you feel at home now. You will feel comfortable and relaxed when you get to your hometown, but it is only a matter of time until you are ready to go back to where your heart (and phone) think home really is.
It is important to remember to enjoy your time at home and think of it as a visit. Just like you may visit your grandparents in your parents’ hometown, you are now just visiting your parents in your own. Enjoy this time and do not spend it all worrying about what is going on without you in your college town.
Your relationships at school
You will spend all your time away from your school relationships, romantic or not, worried that they will forget about you when you are home. They probably live close to other friends they have on campus and you will be jealous of the bonding they get to do that you are missing out on. Romantic relationships will become long distance during breaks and it will feel like the time away has never passed more slowly. Not seeing the people you have grown so close to for weeks or months at a time will be harder than anyone will ever tell you it is, and you will want to (or actually will) road trip to see them more than you should.
Cherish your time at home and rekindle those relationships with family and friends who miss you. Your friends and relationships at school have you for the majority of the time. Don’t let go of the relationships that have you just during breaks and visits.
Overall going out of state was everything I could have asked it to be and more, but these are things everyone should be told before they make that decision. Follow your heart to your choice of school and everything will fall into place as it should.
