It was only six months ago that I decided to pack up as much as I could fit into our Ford Explorer and move from thrilling Illinois to the even more interesting state of Iowa. It seemed as if every irrational fear about college one could possibly have was entering my head. Besides all of my unreasonable fears, I certainly didn’t know how I was going to deal with being away from my family and no longer go to school with my friends. I thought, for sure, I would spend the first few months feeling completely lost and homesick. To my surprise, college became one of the greatest things to have happened to me thus far. Here are the ways that college has changed me in only six months.

1. I learned how to be an extrovert.

In high school, I was never a very outgoing person. I had my friends from middle school and the friends that I met through class, but I never became a social butterfly. College forced me to break out of my comfort zone and socialize. Here’s the thing, everyone at college is nervous and wants to make new friends. I learned that you just have to break the initial awkwardness and BAM! You have a friend.

2. School can actually be interesting.

One of the biggest changes from high school to college was the ability to pick your own classes and schedule. It's amazing how much more engaged one can be in class at nine in the morning as opposed to seven. When you’re excited about the content that is being taught, class no longer becomes a hassle, but rather a place to explore something you’re passionate about. I may be showing my nerdiness here, but when I’m taking a psychology or criminal justice class, I just want to learn more. And let's not forget all the crazy professors we get to experience!

3. I care about things.

This one may seem weird, but hear me out. Of course, I cared about family and things that directly affected me, but I never did much volunteer work in high school. Being in college has taught me to think beyond myself. One class last semester required that we volunteer every week and it completely changed my outlook on life. I found something that I am passionate about (working with refugee families) and can work to improve the lives of others. Service has taught me to not only care for things beyond myself, but also be thankful for everything that I’ve been blessed with.

4. Being independent doesn't mean being alone.

College means being independent. You have to balance school, clubs, laundry and social activities without mom and dad’s help. However, being independent doesn’t mean you can’t call them up for help or advice. Sometimes, all you need is a phone call home for some love and support.

Even though I’m only a semester and a half into my college experience, I know there’s a lot more to encounter and learn in the next three years!