As a teenager, all we want to do is get away from our parents. We argue, we fight, we say things we don’t mean, and in the end, we’re happy to leave…for a while. While I went away for college, I’m still living and attending school in the same state, just a few hours away from my hometown. There are days when I’m really glad I left. I’ve learned how to be independent, take care of myself, pay bills, make (and attempt to stick to) a budget, make myself food and keep a job (or three). I’ve met so many new people, made some great friends and am fairly comfortable driving on the interstate. There are also so many things I miss about living at home as well. I miss my parents, my sister, not having to worry about making rent each month, always feeling safe and always having someone to talk to.

My parents and my sister are my best friends, and leaving them behind was really hard. I knew that going away for college was something I had to do in order to gain my independence as a person. Now in just a month and half, I’ll be graduating from college, and in five months, I’ll be starting a new life in Florida as I begin my Disney College Program. I’ll be further away from home than I’ve ever been on my own, and I already don’t know how I’ll be able to handle it.

My reasons for moving to Florida are actually two-fold. While the DCP is my biggest reason, my other main reason is that it’s hot. I’m from the Midwest, where the seasons don’t actually matter, and the forecast looks like this: Monday, rain; Tuesday, snow; Wednesday, snow / showers; Thursday, warm and sunny; Friday, cool and windy; Saturday, snow; and Sunday, rain again. Now, I know that Florida is pretty notorious for its unpredictable weather as well, but at least there’s only two main forecasts: sunny or rain. I can deal with that. So, 60 degrees in February and snow at the end of March is not my cup of tea. But as happy as I’ll be to leave this ridiculous weather behind, it’ll be hard leaving everything else too.

My hometown is really all I’ve ever known. My entire family lives in and around my town, and the majority of my family has lived there for decades. I’m the first in my family to go away for college, the first to live on my own so far from home, and now I’ll be the first to move to a different state, on my own and living with a group of girls I’ve never met. The future is scary, but I know that it’s bright and I’m ready for whatever it can throw at me. I’ve gained so many skills and learned so much about myself since living away from home. Come August I’ll be developing and expanding those skills and learning even more about myself and I can’t wait to see what knowledge I’ll be bringing back home with me. To anyone who’s nervous, scared or unsure of leaving home, just go for it. Even if it’s just for a brief time, even if you realize you prefer living at home, even if you decide that you like living on your own — you won’t regret it. I promise.