For the majority of in-state students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, moving out may not appear to seem like a massive deal, as students are often close and are just a simple bus ride away from home. But for out-of-state students, it is far more than that.
far from home
I am an out-of-state student from Northern Virginia — approximately an eight to nine hour commute from home. Unlike my peers, I am unable to travel back as frequently as I would appreciate. I recall on move-in day, my dad rented a minivan to transport my belongings into my dorm, as I would not be able to come home and grab different seasonal clothing from my closet every so often. I have had my friends exclaim how they “didn’t pack any winter clothes,” while I packed my thickest puffer jacket, fleece-lined tights, and 20 different hoodies to move across state lines.
To make matters worse, driving for long durations is often unfeasible for my parents, so I have to commit to making the costly purchase of round-trip flight tickets for breaks back home. Additionally, the nearest major airport is in Hartford, Connecticut, which is a not-so-easy commute of 1 to 1.5 hours. On top of the $300 to $400 flight tickets, I either have to book a private shuttle ($86), Uber ($80+), or commute to the Springfield Union Station utilizing the Peter Pan Bus ($16) and Uber from the station to the airport ($40+), all of which are either expensive or time-consuming.
Having many friends go home nearly every weekend makes me feel lonely. I go to the dining halls alone, rot in my room all day, and rarely receive messages back as they are busy continuing their hometown friendships. Despite the negatives, my fear of not finding my people has diminished. My friends and I love to go to parties, play card games in the basement of Van Meter and have group study sessions on the 9th floor of the library. I believe these experiences are ones I am going to truly cherish when I am past my college years.
creating a new home
I have also grown to love the city of Amherst, and I believe many people overlook the numerous positives that come along with living in a college town. Coming from an overpopulated area of Northern Virginia with road congestion, lack of public transportation and repetitive activities, I love how easily I am able to hop on a bus, visit downtown Amherst or Northampton for a fun activity with friends, and not need to worry about the amount of traffic on the road or who is going to drive.
Generally speaking, moving to a new state takes a vast amount of adjustment. Therefore, I urge my in-state readers to keep their out-of-state peers close, regularly check up on them, or simply even offer to bring them to your home (if you and your parents are comfortable with that)! For those in the same circumstances I am in, just know you are not alone in this drastic period of change, and I assure you that it does get easier with time.
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