I attended high school in Apex, North Carolina. Around the end of my junior year, my friends and I began touring colleges in the state. While my friends all found their niche at North Carolina schools, I couldn't help but hope for more options.

Going out-of-state was never really an option. When I brought up the idea to my parents, they emphasized that I would achieve a good, affordable education at a North Carolina public university. Despite their advice, I still applied to schools in other states, and I'm glad I did.

I ended up getting a scholarship to the University of Tampa that made tuition extremely affordable. A few weeks later, I visited campus and loved it. I had finally found my niche.

Looking back, I couldn't see myself at any other school. Going out-of-state has forced me to mature socially and emotionally. Growing up, I had always been known as the 'shy one', so when I was thrown into this foreign environment with thousands of strangers, I could finally reinvent myself and be the person I've always wanted to be. Within my first few weeks, I had already created countless friendships that I still have today.

Being 500 miles from my family has taught me how to be independent. When I'm sick, instead of my mom making me hot tea, I just grab a Gatorade from the lobby vending machine. When I really don't want to go to class, I still force myself out of bed (usually).

Yeah, homesickness definitely happened in the first couple months, but it died down after a while because this school has become my second home. If I never took a risk and left North Carolina, I never would have become who I am today.