Going to college out of my home state was probably the best decision I have ever made. Did I miss the familiarity that my home state gave me? Absolutely. However, when you go to college you have to become an adult faster than you would like, and the best way to do that is by going to an unfamiliar place, with people you don’t know… without your parents. Doing something that drastic forces you to grow up and better prepares you for what college has in store for you. I’m not going to say that I wasn't scared because I was; I was terrified. I was so unsure of myself; did I make the right choice? Now, though, I can honestly say confidently, that I did make the right choice.

College is a place for you to grow up, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that if I didn’t get away from my family. I love my family, they do anything they can for me, but that was the problem. A college out of state means you have to solve problems on your own and become the independent woman or man your parents always wanted you to be. Crazy, right? Who wants to put themselves in a position where if they get stuck in a rut that no familiar faces would be there to help? Well, I didn’t want to, but I knew that I had to. When I graduate college and get a steady job in my major of choice, I can’t always count on others to fix my problems for me. I knew that I had to learn to problem solve on my own.

Also, going to college out of state meant I needed to reach out to new people. Most of your friends from high school are probably going to a school in-state, and if you are truly friends you will remain friends even going to different schools. Meeting new people is so beneficial to you. You get a whole new world, not the same-old-same-old that you got from your friends in high school. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the friends I made in high school, but it was nice to meet new people and have a fresh start.

Going to school out of state also gives you a chance to go on a "vacation." Yes, you’re going to be attending school and depending on your major, you might not have much free time, but when you do you get a chance to explore. Your adventures could be seeing the downtown areas, parks, zoos, or even just a drive to a local Wal-Mart could show you what this new city is about.

Of -course out of state tuition is going to be higher, but I fully believe that it is worth it. You get to meet new people, you can reinvent yourself if you feel like it, and you get a whole new city to explore in your free time. Going to a school out of state was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.