After growing up in a small northern town, it shocked people when I announced where I decided to go to school. “Why so far?” everyone asked. Now that I am in college, it has turned into, “why are you here?” I joke about all the reasons why I am here, sometimes even answering, “I really don’t know!” But there are so many reasons why I traveled so far for college. I have lived up north in small towns my whole life, so if I was going to have the opportunity to go far away and explore, I was going to take it.

I wanted a change of lifestyle. I wanted to live in a big town with a lot of people. When you live in a small town and go to a small high school, everyone knows everyone and at some point that gets old and annoying. I wanted the chance to meet new people; I didn’t want to be surrounded by people who knew me from high school.

I thought that going far away from home would help me become more independent, and I was right. I went to school knowing no one, and it has taught me so much. I have learned to become more social and outgoing through this process because it is something you have to do in order to meet new people. I also learned how to not rely on anyone because I didn’t have anyone to fall back on. I had to do things for myself and make my own friends.

I also just love the South. I have convinced myself that I was meant to live down south, and I have proven myself right. My dream was always to live here, and with college, I got the chance to do that.

I may have shocked people at home, and I may still shock people at school when I tell them where I am from, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I have become a person that I have always wanted to be, I have met so many amazing people, and I love my school. People may think I am crazy for being so far away from home, but it has in my opinion, it has been a blessing.