I want to make it very clear I am in no way escaping anything in my life. Moving across the country is simply an addition to my life. Going to college in California will allow me to embrace a different lifestyle. I want to discover a different me. Sometimes I get cold feet, but I know it is where I’m supposed to be.

While I am moving out west for school I am also moving with the goal of bettering myself. I’m seeking a new atmosphere. I want to learn more about myself and gain a better understanding of the world around me. Experiencing a new atmosphere and way of life will allow me to become a more well-rounded individual as I learn what life is like on the other side of the country.

The people you surround yourself with influence your mindset. I don’t want to have the same mindset for the rest of my life. People on the east coast are far different from those on the west coast. I’ve never truly been exposed to people who think differently than my fellow New Englanders. By surrounding myself with new and foreign mindsets I hope to gain a new outlook. I strongly believe that acknowledging and understanding different perspectives, opinions, and ways of life helps me grow as a person.

I will gain a better appreciation for what I have back home. This goes for material things as well the people around me. As it becomes more real that I am going across the country, I have already gained a deeper appreciation for my mother, that I really wish I gained a long long time ago. Over the last few years we have gained a better understanding of each other and in turn a better relationship. Our relationship was really rocky at some points, but I think that the decision to go far away for college has brought us closer. We basically realized that we should cherish our time before I move instead of constantly arguing.

The obvious main reason for moving is directly for educational purposes. I am attending the University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall to study Psychological and Brain Sciences. Five years ago I would have never imagined leaving the east coast, it’s been my home since birth. I am literally the human embodiment of the definition of a New Englander. While the east coast has an unlimited supply of top tier colleges, the west coast dominates the psychological field. There are a vast number of psychology opportunities at UCSB that I cannot wait to experience. Attending a fairly large school away from home will also expand my social network. Social networking opens a door to many things and is essentially a necessity in finding a job.

The fact that UCSB offered me admission was a totally unexpected blessing. I genuinely feel so blessed that I am attending my top school in the fall. This is an opportunity that will not be taken for granted. I am going to make sure that I take full advantage of all that California has to offer. Despite the fact that I am still figuring out how I’m going to make this work (especially with the pretty penny I’m going to be paying back the rest of my life to be there), I know the time of my life is waiting for me 3,000 miles away.