Flash back to my freshman year and you will find someone who had major FOMO for not leaving home and getting the “college experience.” At the time, all social media platforms were being flooded with my friends seemingly having the time of their lives and I had nothing to contribute.

Now, three years later, I have come to understand the true benefit of my decision. At first, I told myself that it was saving me a lot of money (it was), or that I had plenty of family and friends around that I would never truly be missing out. But now that this phase of my life is coming to an end, I am starting to appreciate it in a different way.

The whole world has been my campus, allowing me to interact on a regular basis with people of all different backgrounds, opinions, and beliefs. Instead of being constantly surrounded by a whole group of people who think the same, I have done the opposite. For the entirety of my college life, I have been preparing myself every single day for a smooth post-graduation transition.

I’m not saying that the college experience isn’t important. Or that campus life isn’t a great way to make friends and figure out the person that you want to be. All I am saying is that maybe it isn’t for everyone, and those who chose not to live in a dorm like I did should know that maybe they made the right decision too.

If you’re reading this and know someone currently trying to figure out where they want to go to college, let them know that there are plenty of benefits either way. After all, college is about finding yourself and finally making your own decisions. You’ll know you made the right one if you feel the way I do about this one.

There is definitely comfort in knowing that after the dust settles and the real world comes knocking at your door, you’ll be prepared no matter what.