Going to college can be scary no matter how far it is away from home, but going out of state is a whole other story.

When I decided to go to college out of state I was really nervous, in fact a few weeks before moving away I started to regret my decision and looked at schools closer to home. Now that I’ve been here for a few months I can safely say that leaving Missouri to come to Mississippi State University was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

One of the first thoughts I had when going away to college is how I am going to navigate around campus, but moving out-of-state for college they also have to think how you are going to navigate around a whole new state.

This can be one of the many reasons people are opposed to moving out of state for college, but it’s a whole new adventure. One can explore the greatest parts of your college town and also the best spots on campus. When I first moved to Starkville Mississippi from St. Louis Missouri, I thought I would never learn how to get to my classes let alone Walmart, but once you’ve explored a couple of times it’s basically a second nature. Navigating around your new home and exploring what’s around could become your new favorite pass time.

No states are truly the same in the United States, and even venturing out a little bit can introduce you to a whole new lifestyle. Go from living in the North to the South? Talk about a definite cultural shock. Y'all will become a new vocabulary word for you, and family and friends will notice it and critique it.

Sweet Tea will be a norm, and when you go home they'll look at you and ask if unsweet is okay (of course its not). You'll learn to love the new lifestyle, but it will make you appreciate your northern lifestyle even more.

Another first thought about moving away from home to college is that you won’t make friends, or you won’t relate to anyone as much as you did in high school. Going away to college exposes you to a lot of different cultures, and people from different backgrounds, but it also exposes you to people who are just like you in many different ways.

You will never know who you are going to meet in college, especially moving far from home. I remember when I came to State for orientation and everyone I met was from somewhere in Mississippi, I never thought I would meet anyone that’s from Mississippi. Now that I’ve been in college for almost a semester I’ve met people from Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and even from other countries!

Going out of state really opens your eyes to many different people, and who knows these people can possibly be your best friends! You come to a college where you know absolutely no one, and your distance from home is a big step.

Many students won’t take that risk of moving away, but those who do take this risk are showing signs of independence and maturity. You are depending on solely yourself and not your family to keep you on top of your game. It’s a risk that you have to be willing to take.

I have had a great first semester so far and I'm super excited to see what Mississippi State has in store for me!