Senior year of high school meant moving on. For some, this change couldn’t come faster, and others just wanted to hold on a little longer. I wasn’t sure which one I was. College wasn’t exactly something I looked forward too. When I got accepted to Arizona State University, I became overwhelmed with the desire to escape. I craved a new adventure and it’s what I got alright.

I felt cool for having the guts to travel 1800 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Phoenix, Arizona. Especially given that almost all my friends barely left the city limits. I was so blissfully involved in my lifestyle that everything was too perfect. Yet, freshmen year was good to me. Sophomore year, the actuality of my choice hit me:

1. No more mommy and daddy means being an adult, but guess what…I’m actually bad at it! Who knew being an adult required practice?

2. I love my family more than I thought I did. When I go home (which isn’t often because of ridiculously high airfare prices) all I want to do is curl up on the couch with my family. The TV doesn’t have to be on and no one needs to talk. I just miss their comforting presence sometimes. To think I once dreaded family night.

3. When I want mommy and daddy, I don’t actually need them. I’m a big girl now which means I can carry out my responsibilities without crying about it. Honestly, it’s like playing house and when you think of it that way it’s also kind of fun.

4. I learn more through my experiences than in the classroom. Okay, I think I always knew this given the amount of C’s on my report cards, yet how well I can recite everything from field trips. All I got to say about this one is going out into the world is more exciting than anything. I learned not to be afraid of it anymore.

5. As much as I love Arizona in comparison to Chicago, I’ve been here four years now and I’m ready to try something new. Guess I’m not the settling type.

6. I am proud of myself, yes. Although, this slap-in-the-face-experience has been incredibly humbling and that’s what I take away most from my move 1800 miles away from home.

7. Life is cruel, but I ditched my teen-attitude and feel immense gratitude for my parents. I realize they’re the reason for my strength. I’m stubborn, but my parents advice to be my own person, while having high expectations was some sort of reverse psychology to ensure I stay true to myself, I’m sure of it.

8. Because my parents were always there to guide me, I found myself reassuring them that they can’t control the mistakes I made and will make. This might be hard to believe, but learning from your mistakes and growing as a person isn’t that hard if you are willing to do so. So thanks mom and dad for letting me suffer my own consequences. I’ve become a better person because of it.

9. I’m not actually alone here, or anywhere I go really. I will always have my friends and family who shaped me because they instilled trust within myself because of how much they believed in me. I can never forget that.

10. Even when I feel like I’m doing everything wrong, I’m still doing something right by trying. So, this whole life thing? Well, I totally got the hang of it now…Okay, I’m almost there.