The fear of missing out…commonly referred to as “FOMO.” Choosing to take the community college route has helped me and will continue to benefit me in so many ways, but it’s not a secret that there are a handful of things I’m not experiencing. Here are five of the biggest things that I fear missing out on:

1. Creating a relationship with my roommate

I was always told that in college, your roommate is your “first friend.” Of course, this is not true for everyone, but it was something I had looked forward to, and something I feel I am missing out on right now.

2. Greek Life

Ever since I was in middle school, I had dreams of being in a sorority. I thought I would have found my home by now, and that I’d be surrounded by one hundred new sisters.

3. Dorm life

Though I am thankful to not have to share a room right now, and to not have to shower with flip flops on, I was so excited at the thought of living in a dorm room with my roommate(s). For years, I’ve had a Pinterest board with dorm decor and color scheme ideas. Not kidding, it’s true.

4. School pride

Football games. Tailgates. Any and all college events of this nature were something I had always looked forward to. Wearing my school's colors on game day and cheering for our team is a huge part of the college experience, and something I definitely feel like I’m missing right now.

5. Experiencing life on a campus

I knew that wherever I chose to go to school, getting involved in campus life was important to me. Not having that right now gives me serious FOMO.

Though I know I am incredibly blessed to have all of the opportunities that I do because of community college, the fear of missing out on the ideal college experience is still very, very real to me. It is something that I struggle with all the time. If you’re like me and fighting these feelings daily, don’t forget that you are not alone, and that you are where you are in life for a reason. What’s that saying? When Plan A doesn’t work out, there are 25 other letters…it goes something like that.