I was always the shy girl growing up. When I was younger and my mom would take my younger brother and I to the park he could make a friend within minutes, but it took me a little longer to find a friend to play with. I was very quiet going through school and I only had a few close friends, but that was perfectly okay with me.

I was also a home body. The thought of having to move out and go to college gave me anxiety. It also didn't help that my mom was a home body too. We would be on an amazing vacation, but my mom and I would get so excited to go home.

It wasn't a bad thing that I was a home body. I was raised by great parents in a great home that made me love spending time there. I know some of my friends that couldn't stand being at home and would beg to hang out and have sleepovers at my house.

When it was that time to go on college visits I had my heart set on one college, but my parents made me explore my options. It's a good thing I did because I could have never got into my dream college with the ACT score I had. Now looking back my dream college was only my dream college because it was 20 minutes from my house and I could live at home.

I ultimately decided on a college that was two hours away from where I grew up. The day I moved into my dorm I had no idea what to expect. I thought I was going to get so homesick that I already planned on going home that next weekend. My parents helped moved me in and then we said our goodbyes and I never felt so scared. I had never been on my own and then there I was far away from home with all new people in a brand new environment.

Now looking back I don't know why I was so nervous because I had such a good first week away from home I was dreading going back home like I originally planned. I never wanted to go back home and suddenly the though of having to move back home for the summer was the worst thing ever.

I grew up without realizing and I liked that. I had so many new responsibilities and opportunities now that I lived on my own. My mom wasn't there to save the day if I forgot my lunch or if I got sick at school. As horrible as those times were I learned a lot about myself.

Going away for college made me appreciate my home and family even more. I have grown as a person in more ways than one. For example now when I go home I care about if my room is clean and if the dishes are done and these are things I could have cared less about in high school.

I can't imagine what my life would be like if I stayed close to home for college. Going away was one of the hardest things to do at the time, but was one of the most rewarding.