Distance from home is one of the main factors that influences a person's choice on which college they attend. Do you want to stay in state or maybe go a few hours away? How about half way across the country? Most people choose to go a few hours from home, but there’s that handful who take the risk and goes miles away. I am a part of that handful.
It takes a lot to make this decision. When you chose to go to college far away there will always be the ups and downs.
The Downs
Let’s start with the downs to get the bad out of the way. When it comes to those three day weekends you’re always left in a rut. Your parents won’t pay for a plane ticket to fly you home for just three days, so you have one or two options; either go home with a friend or stay on campus. This just makes you realize how homesick you are. Also, when parents come to visit, you know your family won’t be able to. Then when you are able to go home for breaks it takes lots of time and planning, but in the end it’s worth it.
The Ups
Now moving on to the upside of going to college miles from home. When you are that far away from home you realize how much your family means to you. You start to have a stronger connection with them and enjoy the moments you do get to spend with them more. Being so far away also allows you to grow and become more independent. With your family not being a car ride away you aren’t able to call them up for simple things like bringing you something that you may have forgotten at home or doing your laundry for you when you go home, so learn how to problem solve. You also get the best of both worlds by living in two states. For me, I get to go to school in New England where I have grown up and loved, but then for breaks I get to go home to the South where everything is new and different. It gives me a breath of fresh air; a change of lifestyle and scenery. The best part of going to college far away from home is the feeling of coming home. You get this unexplainable feeling when your finally flight touches down and you realize you are home again.
Making this decision is not the easiest, but if it’s right for you then you have to. No matter where you pick to go to college you have to keep one thing in mind; this place you chose will become your home away from home, so make sure you feel at home there.
