This past summer I had an internship in Los Angeles. To be honest it was one of the best summers I’ve had, hands down. Obviously not being from California, the transition was a little rough because I had to figure out a whole new city — and fast. Even though I was far from home, the experience has taught me so much.

In college you are obviously away from your family, but this experience was different. I was very nervous to go somewhere completely new where I didn’t know many people. On the flip side, though, I knew that this was a chance of a lifetime. How many times to get a chance to intern at your dream internship or travel to your favorite college? Yes you will miss home, but who wouldn’t? The experience in itself makes up for that.

Being away for the whole summer really taught me how live on my own and in a new place. I had to pick up things much more quickly than I was used to. Living on my own really taught me how to be confident and do things on my own. I am very used to always having friends around to go to dinner and movies. Until I really started meeting people, I was on my own — so I hiked to the Hollywood sign, and would often get dinner by myself. It really instilled so much confidence that I didn’t have before.

One of my favorite parts was the people I met along the way. I met so many people who are from all over. This was nice because I knew I wasn’t the only one far from home. I gained so many friends from the place I stayed, from my internship and from just going out and exploring. Since it was only for the summer, you get close to people much faster. It was really nice to have a group of friends to go on adventures with and just to hangout with. After coming back for the summer we all still keep in touch, which is awesome. Living away from home isn’t easy, but it really helps you see yourself in a whole new way. This experience has made me more independent and I’m not as afraid anymore of not living close to home.

It’s scary thinking about growing up and moving to a new place. An experience like this — whether it be studying abroad or having an internship in a new city — really teaches you that being on your own isn’t as scary as we all think it is. Yes, everyone gets homesick, that’s completely normal; but living on your own in a new place opens so many opportunities. Take advantage of the time you have while you can still travel and temporarily move away, because once we grow up that luxury starts to fade away.

Now, in my senior year and on the job hunt grind, I feel much more confident searching for jobs in different cities all around the country. So if you have the opportunity to go somewhere for a semester or a summer, don’t pass it up. I never imagined myself going to Los Angeles for a summer and I don’t regret my decision one bit. If anything, do it for the experience of a lifetime.