Pros:
1. Meeting new people
Going to school across the country gave me the chance to meet people I would've never been able to meet and these people have become some of my best friends. When you go to college in your hometown and commute to school you don't really have the same interactions with people on campus as you would if you lived on campus and far away from home. These friends become your family and your rock when you are far from home.
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2. You are far from your friends at home, but that brings you closer.
Being thousands of miles away from home, going on another path with my life, and meeting so many new people you'd think that I would grow apart from my best friends back home. Well that's just not the case. While we may not talk as much while I'm at school, simply picking up the phone and calling them or seeing them when I get back home it feels like I never left. We just have more crazy stories to tell each other.
(Miss you guys)
3. Being more independent
Being light years away from any type or parent or family you have no choice but to become more independent. No one is there to make you dinner, do your laundry or help you out. It's basically on you now.
4. Getting out of your comfort zone
Going to school in a whole new state you will be exposed to things that you aren't familiar with or comfortable with but you have to get used to it and adjust. For me going to school in Ohio I had to get used to bad drivers, snow, not having In-N-Out and did I mention, snow?
(sorry not all Ohio drivers are bad...)
5. Having a fresh start
Everything embarrassing from kindergarten to senior year of high school, crazy ex's or lingering drama is all left behind when you go away for school and chances are 90% of the people from high school you'll never even see again.
Cons:
1. Being homesick
You'll miss your family, friends, and pets (definitely pets), but they aren't going anywhere. You will see them when you get home.
2. Not being able to go home whenever you want
Plane flights aren't cheap, and you can't just get in a car and drive a couple hours home. For me, its a 4 hour flight or a 29 hour drive to get home; it's not easy. If you have a fear of planes or flying, like I did, trust me you'll get over it quickly.
3. Expensive
When you stay at home and go to school you can work and make your own money, you don't have to pay for a place to live and you don't have to pay for food. Safe to say, it isn't cheap going to school across the country but it sure is worth every penny.
4. Time change
Calling my mom or friends at home at 11 AM and wondering why they aren't up and not realizing it's only 8 AM there is still a problem to this day. The worst thing about the time change however is the jet lag.
5. Family can't visit as often
One of the biggest cons about going to school in Ohio and being from Nevada is not being able to see my family as often. I play lacrosse at school so my teammates who live only hours away have family come watch their games all the time, which sucks because my family can't drive up for a game for the weekend. But like I said, it's worth it.
