Leaving your hometown to move somewhere completely different can be both scary and challenging--especially after high school, when you're only 18 or 19 years old. However, while living in the same, comfortable, cozy little hometown may sound appealing, it does have its drawbacks. I grew up in Southern California, which, though it may be a slightly biased opinion, is arguably one of the best places in the country to grow up.

People constantly questioned why I would give up beaches, beautiful weather, and most importantly, In-N-Out, to move to the bustling, cold, city life in Boston. During the winter, I often questioned this myself, but after only a year there, Boston has also found a place in my heart I call home. What I found most important about my experience, however, was what moving to Boston taught me.

Leaving your hometown, you learn something incredible: your hometown is not the only place in the world. Call me narcissistic, but I was appalled at how differently people do things. The smallest things one would not even think twice about was suddenly something I labeled in my mind as a "California thing." Simple things like crossing the street and drivers' mannerisms varied from coast to coast. I was appalled when I first saw someone brushing their teeth in the bathroom and leaving the water running--when you aren't living in a long-term drought your whole life, things like that do not even occur to you.

Sure it can be a bit of a culture shock, and there were days where I yearned for the California sun and a Neapolitan shake from In-N-Out, but coping with these things and learning to leave your comfort zone is important. I saw myself beginning to grow exponentially as a person, as I started meeting new people and learning about other cultures, other parts of the world, and most importantly myself.

And then there's the part where you go back to your hometown and truly see how you have grown. You begin to realize how limited many people's viewpoints of the world are, and you begin to see everything in your hometown differently. You feel as though you have truly gained a sense of independence that most people have not achieved yet, and I feel as though this is essential to one's growth and the transition from adolescent youth to adulthood.