Most of my friends stayed within a three-hour radius when it was time to go to college, but I decided to go much farther. I chose a college that was on the complete opposite side of the state. I knew it would be hard to move away from my family, but I felt like I was trapped and needed to get out before it was too late. I moved nine hours away on impulse to a college I knew no one at and it ended up being the best decision of my life.

In high school, I was in a relationship with a guy that changed me for the worst. Why would you stay with someone that makes you miserable? I wasted my whole high school life with the wrong person and should have listened to my mom when she told me there are plenty of fish in the sea. If you are not happy with the person you are with, just leave and give yourself some breathing space. Learn to live by yourself or pick someone that brings out the best in you because everyone deserves to be happy. It was time to get away. My best friend wanted a different life than I wanted. What better time than college to move away?

When I finally made the decision, I knew that I was going to get my fresh start. No one knew anything about me, where I came from, or who I was. It was time to reinvent myself to be the best person I knew I could be. Before, I stuck around a small group of friends and only conversed within that circle, coming to college I expanded myself to everyone. I got to know different people from different places, people with different styles and different views on life. I started putting myself around more positive people, people who genuinely enjoy life. They made me realize that money can always be obtained if you work, but experiences are once in a lifetime. I'm not scared to put some money down on visiting new places because I'm in my 20's and this is when we should be traveling. We need to have stories to tell to our children and I do not want to be telling them I wasted my youth sitting on the couch.

Although moving may sound scary to some, I could not beg enough for more people to do it. You can always visit your loved ones, but it is time for you to be a little selfish and live your own life. I found myself when I moved and now I love the life I live. I have friends that I can text and take a road trip with me in a heartbeat. I learned to be a better person, and realized it does not take a lot out of you to be kind, it actually might make you feel better. Moving away gave me the experience that I needed to learn who I am without going Miley Cyrus on everyone.