1. You're on your own, mostly!

One of the best parts about going out of state is that you get to discover somewhere entirely for yourself. For the next few years (and even after graduation) the place where you attended college will be somewhere you know the ins and outs of. Getting the chance to discover little things like what grocery store you should go to or where to get your haircut or which shops have the best student discounts are all things that make you feel like you're really ~adulting~ while still having the comfort of meal plans and RAs.

For me, this has been one of the coolest aspects of being out of state. Every time someone visits and I bring them to my favorite restaurant or boutique, I remember that this city is my place to explore and make memories in. I recognize that I have a lot of safety nets and people making sure I succeed in Athens, but there's something about conquering a new city (i.e. knowing where you can get good tacos) that makes you feel invincible.

2. Everyone knows everyone here… except for you.

Oh, out of stater. Upon your arrival to campus in August, all the other freshman will be making new friends and be nervous about eating alone just like you. However, one thing that will become glaringly obvious is that you probably went to high school with no one at this school...and everyone else knows at least ten people from growing up who are now just down the hall. Don't lose hope on making friends, though, because these connections can be powerful tools for you too. When five people from her high school sit down with you when you go to dinner with your roommate, introduce yourself!! Now you have five more faces to recognize in classes and get to know!

3. You WILL get homesick eventually.

My first semester, I wasn't ever homesick for more than ten minutes. Sure I missed my sisters and puppies, but lots of Snapchats and FaceTime calls made me recognize that just because I was far away didn't mean I couldn't still experience the things I loved about being home. The excitement of freshman year was powerful enough to keep me going through it. Come spring, however, it was a different story. Having spent a month at home for winter break, there were certain things I hadn't noticed I missed at school until I returned. BUT, being homesick doesn't necessarily mean you love your school any less or need to move home. The reality is that being an hour from home would make it a lot simpler to go home for a weekend, but you're not stuck anywhere. Maybe you'll be home for Thanksgiving or maybe not until May, but FaceTiming into family dinner with you microwave mac and cheese can definitely make you realize that you are just as missed at home as home is missed from wherever you are. And that feels really good.

4. The word "home" is changing now.

When you first get to school, everything is foreign and strange, but you'll be surprised how quickly you're going to feel at home. Come that first moment when you get to go back home, you're going to realize that the town you grew up in doesn't entirely feel like home now that you are making a life for yourself in another place. Of course, when you're at school though, it can never compare to your mom's cooking and the way your brother always begs to borrow your car. While it might seem strange that neither place totally feels like home anymore, moving out of state for college gives you the opportunity to have roots all across the country. You get to explore different subcultures or coasts while you are still shaping who you are and allow yourself to grow from what you may not have experienced in your home state.

Going to school far away, while difficult at times, has been one of the greatest decisions I've made for myself. I love my family and being close to my sisters, but coming to Athens has given me the freedom to start college without necessarily feeling obliged to go visit every weekend as I think I would have if I had been close to home. Because of that, I spend more quality time talking to my sisters and parents than I did at home. This is because they were always just right down the hall. Now, even from far away, I'm closer with my family than ever.