As the first semester ends for sophomore year, I have started to think of all the things I have learned since moving three hours away to go to school. When I first told people that I was going to be attending school three hours away many people doubted I would survive the first semester and told me how I would hardly survive not being in my hometown. But what I don't think they understood was that I had already carefully considered every aspect of moving away. Was it going to be hard to move away from my family? Yes. Was I going to miss out on some very great accomplishments of my siblings? Yes. Did I feel like I was going to miss my family? Yes terribly. But was this going to help me grow and become a better person? Yes. thinking of the last question is what helped me decide on where I planned to attend.

When you first move away and your parents help you unpack and move all your stuff in you never think about how that is truly the final moment of you living with your parents for a few months where you see them every day and your mom makes you amazing home cooked meals. But then it hits... It hits just as they drive away and you're alone in your room and you realize that you are now on your own. No more hearing your siblings argue over the TV. No more hearing your mom yell for you when dinners were done. No more spacious showers where everything you need is within reach.

College is truly a different environment and it makes you start to realize how much you took your family for granted. You will think about what if you just move back home and that it'd be real easy since you've only been on campus a day and it couldn't hurt to just transfer and attend college back home for a year or two just until you feel comfortable. Believe me I now these thoughts I'd had them often the first few weeks and even thought about it on nights when I couldn't sleep due to being homesick but believe me when I say that feeling of emptiness goes away after awhile if you join groups around campus or get involved in the community.

I'm not saying you won't feel left out when you see photos of your best friends back at home having fun or your family tells you of how they ran into one of your closest friends and they start to tell you about their life and the memories they've made without you. When you move away you start to grow and become more independent. My first time going home since leaving was one fo the greatest experiences I had because moving away made me more grateful for my family and my friends and it gave me a new sense of knowledge because I had seen and met many different people that I would've never met had I stayed closer to home. The biggest secret to moving away from home the first time is to get involved around campus, make new friends, lessen the number of visits home for awhile, focus on your studies, and always try new things like food and community activities. When you do these things time flies by and before you know it you are back at home being loved by your parents and siblings. I can vouch I've been there and it feels good to know that you are capable of surviving.