Yes, thank you to all of the Mom's out there for your wise advice on how to not be a college drop-out. Apparently, it worked because here I am about to start my second year. However, there were a few things I realized on my own that even my own mom couldn't warn me about.
Sure, you'll get homesick and miss your family and cuddling with your pets. But, no one tells you that the only person you truly know during your first years on your own is yourself. Everyone and everything is new. Even if you go to college with some friends from high school like I did, the environment you are in is still completely unfamiliar. There were many times I felt very alone. It's a hard transition to go from being in the comfort of your own home around the people and the places you've known all of your life, to starting fresh in a new place all by yourself as a teenager. It took me a while to realize that yes, I was alone, but I needed to be OK with that. And yes, I had to start doing simple things like go to the grocery store by myself, cook by myself, etc. Mind you, I was a pretty independent person growing up. I have always been used to doing things myself. However, it was the fact that I was doing it by myself and knowing I wasn't going home, but to a practically empty apartment, that had an unexpected affect on me. I had to become used to the fact that I was no longer an adolescent living in my parents house, where I could have the luxury of having my room to myself and the comfort of my family and dogs around. The detachment of the things, places, people, and routines I was used to came as a bit of a shock to me. It was more than being homesick, it was realizing that I was finally an adult and the only person I needed to start depending on was myself.
I have always taken comfort in having people around me because I have always feared the feeling of being alone. However, learning to be on your own is liberating. It allows you to take the time to focus on yourself. As cliche as it sounds, if you have a goal, then achieve it. There's no point in waiting for someone to make you do it because the only person who can do it is you.
Embrace being on your own. It's the perfect time to get to know yourself. You'll learn new things while having new experiences that no one can control but yourself.
