High school was so long ago, and yet, it feels like just yesterday.

Over the past year, I've met more people than I can name, formed friendships stronger than ever, and traveled on adventures I never imagined. While I felt extremely independent and busy in high school, I didn't taste real independence and responsibility until I left the nest and migrated to the south for college.

In high school, you grow up with your friends, so they know you since the days you were eating Play-Doh. They know your family, they know your interests, and there's nothing you can really change about yourself. It's hard to break out of your shell and conquer the impossible when you live with these expectations of who you are. And, that's why high school is sheltered; you're not quite an adult, even when you are the mature age of 18. You are stuck with who you've been since kindergarten.

While I know I haven't changed too much from high school, there's a certain relief in breaking away from my home town and experiencing a new culture and atmosphere. It's a breath of fresh air to be immersed in a school where I originally knew no one. There's suddenly an opportunity to try new activities and different foods without anyone knowing you've always been terrible at sports and have never tried Chipotle.

College is an entirely different life. You determine everything about your every day. If you want to skip a class, you can. If you want to go shopping or spurge on an iced coffee, you can. If you feel like joining a club or sport, you can. Everything is within your jurisdiction, and this independence infinitely beats high school. College teaches you to mature and live your own life, and it's a journey unlike anything I've ever experienced.