Moving into a dorm is easy. More often than not, you have a bed, a desk, a dresser and a closet. Sure it’s hard to leave home for the first time and be on your own, but in my opinion, what’s really hard is moving into your own apartment or rental house. Completely moving out of your parents’ house and actually making monthly payments of electricity, water, and rent is pretty scary if you think about it. You’re in the adult world for real now.
Last year while living in a dorm, I knew that when I went home for breaks or on the weekends, most of my stuff would still be in my room just like I left it. It was as if I didn’t really leave. Now that I am in my own house, I don’t have that bedroom to go home to whenever I want. Nearly everything I own has been moved, leaving nothing but a few things left on my walls and a dresser that was too big for my new house. It’s an odd feeling to look at the place you spent years in completely empty.
When I moved out of my parents’ house, it didn’t really sink in that I was moving into my own place at first. When I was packing to move into my dorm, I was anxious and excited because college was brand new to me. This time around, I put off packing for as long as I could, dreading the long process that comes with every move. Instead of leaving behind things I could come home to get when I needed, everything went with me. When I come home for breaks, there will no longer be a comfortable bed for me to lay down on and destress from school; now there will be a couch in the living room for me to sleep on.
Moving into my own place is both sad and pleasing. Sad because I am leaving behind a place I once spent most of my time, and pleasing because I know I’ve finally made it to the real adult world. I can’t speak for them, but I’m sure my parents feel the same way. They’ve raised a successful child who can be independent and make it in life.
Holidays won’t feel the same, either. I, along with all of my friends, experienced this last year. Coming home for a whole month or a long weekend was a relief, but it didn’t quite feel like it always did. Sometimes you feel like a guest with your own family, and I believe it’s because you’ve been leading different lives than they are. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to it, but it is what it is.
Moving out of your parents’ house for good is something we will all have to do eventually. It can be scary, but you’re not alone. If you’ve made it to this point, you can say that you are finally part of the adult world. You’ve done what your parents have dreamed and hoped you would do since you were little. It’s OK to have mixed feelings, and it might not even feel like anything special. Don’t worry, just embrace this new chapter of your life.
