It's 7:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night and I am walking back to my dorm room after a long day of class, followed by work. Untangling my headphones that I shoved into my backpack earlier in the day, I open up Spotify on my phone and click shuffle on my "calm and relax" playlist.

First song that plays is "Rivers and Roads" by the Head and the Heart. I catch myself listening to all the lyrics, reminiscing on the first day of summer when I was listening to them sing it live at the Northerly Island Park venue in downtown Chicago.

As the 1 minute and 48 second mark hits, and they sing "aNd mY faMilY LiveS iN a difFeRenT sTatE," everything crumbles. Normally this sentimental stuff wouldn't get to me, but because my family DOES live in a different state and the fact that I miss them like crazy, it makes it that much more meaningful. I know it sounds crazy that listening to a song can completely change my mood, but whether it's song lyrics, missing home cooked meals, or anything else in between, when it comes to adjusting and living life on my own, it can be easy to miss the ones who have surrounded me since birth.

I don't know, maybe it's just me. I did JUST see them for over a month during winter break, but growing up in the Faletto household was unlike no other. My mom, dad and brother have always been my #1 supporters. Not having them by my side and coming home after a long day of classes and walking into an empty dorm room definitely took some time getting used to.

When it's times like this, I have to remember to look at the bright side of attending a college I love, studying what I love. Even though I am far from home, I am here to pave the path to my future and I wouldn't change it for the world.

It's the little things, like getting those emails from the front desk saying I received a package from Elburn, IL or getting facetime calls from my mom, that never fail to make my day. They are good reminders to keep moving forward and trust the process. With that being said, there are some positives when it comes to going away for college.

Being on campus I feel much more motivated and driven than I do at home. It is easy for me to set goals and create a mindset where I am motivated, involved and always on the go.

Doing my laundry, buying groceries, hooking up the cable on my TV are just a couple examples of how independence became my middle name when I started college. Okay, maybe not the setting up my TV one….I definitely had to facetime my dad for that one.

Anyways, attending college out of state has allowed me to try new things, step outside of my comfort zone and ultimately, learn who I am and who I want to become.

So, what is the moral of the story I am trying to get across? Going away for college is not as bad as it seems. While there are times where the urge to see your family creeps up on you at the weirdest times, these are the days you will cherish forever.

From someone who was anxious in the weeks leading up to move in day, dreading the day I would say goodbye to my family, and ultimately crying as they drove away, I can honestly say going away for college has not only made me stronger, but excited for the next three and a half years, because hey, I'm only a freshman and my journey has just begun!