Moving to college is scary for many incoming freshmen. However, once you get adjusted (and once you get over the fact that you're wallet is shrinking) living at college compares to nothing else. Not only is living at college fun, but it is extremely important in the development and transition to adulthood.

1. It provides countless opportunities.

You meet so many different types of people, have the opportunity to go to copious events, and have a chance to put yourself out there in the world. You expose yourself to such a variety of different situations that you never would have otherwise.

2. You learn how to live well with people you don't know.

You learn how to respect others' boundaries and how to respectfully and effectively communicate when you do not agree on something. If you're living with roommates, housemates, hall mates, dorm mates (if that's even a word), it doesn't matter. In all of these situations, you have to deal with people, and this will help you to be better prepared to deal with people in general in your future.

3. You learn how to be responsible for yourself.

Mixed up delivery order or difficult living situation? Your mom isn't there to figure it out for you. Laundry and cooking? All on you. Though this seems undesirable on the surface, really learning how to be responsible and how to do things for yourself is so extremely valuable. You can be independent and know how to take care of yourself.

4. Independence.

No one is telling you what you can and you can't do. Granted, while living at college there are some general rules that you should probably follow (if you're on campus), but for the most part you can do whatever you want. Order pizza at 3 am. Why not? Not wash your dishes for two weeks (gross), you can do that. There's no parents nagging on you to do your chores (or to do this or that) because you are responsible for yourself (reference above point) and independent.

5. You have your own time and your own space.

Granted, you might have to share a dorm room with a roommate, or a house with housemates, but you are still on your own. You aren't living under the same roof as your parents anymore. No one is telling you what to do with your time-- you have complete control over what you will do with your day. Almost all of your time is personal time, or can be if you want it to be.

6. You grow as a person.

Perhaps the most important reason (in my opinion) that encompasses all of the other points I've just made. Growth is extremely valuable-- it helps you to become a better person, and shows that you are willing to better yourself, fix your mistakes, and learn from your past. Why not live at college? It's fun, and you learn so much about yourself, your family, your hometown, and life in general when you do so. Growing is so, so important.

Yes, you may save some cash if you choose to not live at college, but let me tell ya, you're missing out on something greater than a tight wallet. Living at college is fun, but also extremely valuable. Even though it may be tough at first, it is definitely worth going over the bumps in the road along the way.