What They Won't Tell You About Moving Away For College
Start writing a post
Student Life

What They Won't Tell You About Moving Away For College

Because the truth is scary.

39325
What They Won't Tell You About Moving Away For College
Kalli King

When you grow up in the same town with the same people your whole life, it's hard not to be excited when high school graduation rolls around. You watch those before you graduate and move off to different places and you are practically counting down the minutes until it is finally your turn. You see the Instagram posts of their new town and new friends, their Snapchats of going out and having fun, and watch as they live their seemingly new perfect lives right before your eyes.

But here's what they don't tell you:

They don't tell you that as you pack up your things and pull out of your driveway for the last time that you feel like you're leaving a piece of yourself behind.

They don't tell you that once your mom unpacks your room and meets all your roommates (and everyone else for that matter), that you will start to cry as she gets ready to leave you and go back home. And, if you're anything like me, will cry for the next three hours and call her no less than ten times. I may or may not have also told her to come back and get me.

They don't tell you that the first few days and weeks are some of the loneliest times in your life. Because even though you're meeting hundreds of new people, all you want is the comfort of those who already know you.

They don't tell you that being homesick comes in waves. You will finally settle in and become comfortable. Then you see all your friends from home together without you and become heartbroken because though they may miss you, they are, indeed, fine without you.

But they don't tell you all these things for a reason, and now that I have moved away, too, I completely understand why. They don't tell you because they don't want you to miss out on potentially one of the best experiences of your life.

Because before moving away, no one told me how these random people I was assigned to live with would become my family in such a short period of time. When you all have no one else to lean on you learn to lean on each other. You become best friends in a matter of a few days and start to wonder how you ever lived your life without them right there by your side.

No one told me about the feeling that I'd get when I went home to visit. I expected to feel relieved, but all I could think about was how much I missed being back at school. Because once you move away for college you slowly begin to realize that home isn't a place anymore, home is a feeling. And how lucky am I to have two places that I can call home?

More importantly, no one told me about all of the growing I'd do as a person. When you are forced to make new friendships and indulge in new experiences, you become a better version of yourself that you never even knew existed.

So yeah, it's hard. Actually, it's undoubtedly the hardest thing I've ever done. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep because I missed my family and yearned for the comfort of that which was normal to me. But then one day I read a quote from Vincent Van Gogh that said, "Normality is a paved road: It's comfortable, but no flowers grow there".

And let me tell you, I am blooming. And so will you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55789
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35962
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957956
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

186916
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments