Senior year is a whole different ball game in the college world. It is your year of “lasts” and year of making plans for big changes. As there are super fun parts to senior year, as there should be, it’s stressful. There’s knowing what you want to do after graduation, trying to find a placed to live, WHERE to live, who to potentially live with, how to pay off student loans, etc.

There are some near-graduates who know that they need to stay where they are. That is their calling, and that’s perfectly okay. But there are seniors who know their heart doesn’t belong in a place where they have stayed forever, whether that’s in their home town, or in their college town, or even the whole dang state. Knowing that there is more to life than inside your box is fascinating, but really scary.

You may be this person who wants to venture out, spread your wings. Of course, there are obstacles and reasons it may be hard to do so. Leaving your family is difficult, especially if you’re close to them. Your family may guilt you into trying to stay. Your boyfriend or girlfriend may still be here, or you may not have enough money now, or ever. You may simply just be scared. Scared to leave your familiar bubble, scared that you won’t find a job, or make new friends, or won’t make it. There are a thousand different reasons that are pulling you back, but if you let these reasons win, you’ll probably never get to have this chance again. You’ll always look back and wonder “what if…” You are still young! You have the freedom of directing your future. Don’t ever question “what if…”

There will always be a fear in trying something new. It’s what naturally holds us back. But how will we know if we like or don’t like something if we have never tired it? If you have dreamed of starting your own life outside of your bubble, and you fall in love with it, then that’s it. That’s amazing. You are doing what most people only dream about doing. But if you tried it, and it ended up not working out, that’s great. You have eliminated the “what if…” from your life. It’s beautiful knowing we as young adults have the choice to guide our futures to what WE want.

So yes, there may be fear into starting your life in a new place. Yes, big change is going to happen, but it may be the best change you will experience. You’re allowed to be scared, but if one thing, be courageous. Go out into the unknown and experience what YOU want. If you’re like me and you know deep down, on the surface and everywhere in between that you want to get the hell out of here, do it. If you know you were meant to stay here and absolutely love it, then okay. But I think everyone, deep down, wants to know what is outside their safe and familiar bubble.

Shia LaBeouf said it best: “Don’t let your dreams be dreams. Just DO IT!”