Well you guys, it’s that time of year again! For you kiddies that are fresh out of high school, buckle your seatbelts, it’s about to get real. It blew my mind how quickly my summer transformed from weeks at the beach, trips to the movies, and late night bonfires to trying to cram what seemed like my entire life into totes and duffle bags. For me, my first time packing felt like the most traumatic thing I had ever done. Dramatic, I know, I am the queen of overreacting! But, for me, this was more than just moving away to college, it was moving away from everything I had ever been familiar with. In my case, when I selected UWA, I was the only student in my graduating class to do so. My move to West Alabama was me leaving behind friends, family, and my boyfriend. Being the homebody that I am, the thought of living anywhere that wasn’t with my parents and little sister was absolutely foreign to me. The night before we were to leave, I literally sat and cried while cramming what was left of my socks and underwear into one of my bags. Being the excellent support that they are, my mama and boyfriend were almost immediately comforting and quieting my fears. When the next day rolled around, way to early I might add, I did my best to keep their words in my mind and smile all the way to the other side of the state. We arrived, signed me in with the University Band, and started carting the insane amount of luggage into my dorm room. I’m not going to lie to you, the unpacking and decorating with everyone was a blast, but when the day got later and the room tidied I started to panic on the inside. Purses were picked up and the room started getting quieter and I knew what was coming, the dreaded goodbyes. The flood of tears returned and this time I wasn’t the only. As my family trickled out the door the hugs got tighter and my room emptier. When that door clicked shut behind them, I swear I have never felt lonelier than I did for those next two weeks.

As my freshman year progressed I can’t say that my frame of mind got a whole lot better! I called and facetimed constantly trying to fill the void I felt had been left by the family I missed so much. Looking around and seeing how well everyone else was handling and how much fun they were having, I started to think there was something seriously wrong with me. I mean, was I crazy? Here I was living part of the American Dream! I got to attend a great school, surrounded by magnificent professors, and performing with a great band! Why was I so sad? Then something marvelous happened, I found people who understood my desire to be home and who blew my mind with how that had been courageous enough to come from even farther than I had just to come and be a part of such an amazing student body. From then on out it blew my mind just what my change of attitude could do for me! But, I can’t give them all the credit; I finally broke down and got help from the absolutely wonderful counseling staff here on campus. Not long after it all started to really come together for me! I was offered a work-study position as an English tutor and I was so excited.

When the time came for me to move back to campus for sophomore year, it was unreal how much better it went! I’m not gonna sit here and tell you there haven’t been any tears and that I haven’t missed home, because that wouldn’t be the truth, but my mindset has been totally different. I’ve made this place my home this time and focused more on the pieces of home and family that I had with me than on the things that I felt had been pulled away. I’m not telling you my story to scare you about the move in day or to make you feel bad for me, I tell you about what I went through so that you guys will hopefully learn from my struggle rather than having to learn it the hard way. Even though, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be determined to do it your own way to start out with, no matter what anybody says! Your freshman year, really college in general, is an amazing journey. And if you’re from a really small town like I am, it’s literally like a whole new world! Is the move away from home hard? Oh yeah! Will you miss your family and friends? You better believe it! But it’s so worth that little bit of heartache to learn all that you can from everything that such an experience has to offer. This time is your time, never waste it!