Graduating from college is intimidating, exciting, and terrifying. Add onto that not only moving out but also moving away and it can be overwhelming. At the end of December, I plan to move twelve hours away to Maryland, near Washington D.C. I had visited the area over the summer and really liked it, but moving there for good is different than being there for a short time.
The Difference Between Going Away For School And Moving Away
While I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, I decided after high school to go to college out of state. I moved into a residential hall with a random roommate, moved in with my friend, and then finally ended college living in an apartment with my friend and boyfriend. Living away from home that first semester was really hard, but some part of me knew that living in Kentucky was temporary. I was only three and a half hours away from home, so I could drive back for a weekend if I wanted to see family and old friends.
Moving away after graduation feels, and is, much more permanent. Moving to Maryland will be too far for a weekend trip. I will be starting a new chapter, and it’s scary that I’m starting the rest of my life hours from familiar faces.
When you’re in college, you’re used to seeing high school friends on breaks and living close to your college friends. After graduation, this will likely change. I will have to talk to friends more over the phone, through Skype, and through text. Moving post-graduation also means making new friends, which is more difficult when you aren’t taking classes and living on campus.
It can be really hard to voluntarily leave everything you’ve ever known to live somewhere else. If you moved away for school, then you know the feeling to some extent. But this time there won’t be a college community with organizations and on-campus housing to help you feel connected and safe. This time it’s just you, maybe a significant other/friend, and a career.
The Good News
Moving is an adventure. You’ll get to discover a new area with different restaurants, museums, and culture. You’ll meet new people. You’ll start a new job. With so much change, it can be easy to focus on everything you’re leaving. Instead, think of everything that you’ll gain. Think of how you’ll grow from this experience. Remind yourself that moving away takes courage. A lot of people stay where they grew up. Moving away means being brave and believing in a positive future. The transition from living partially or totally with your parents to living on your own in an entirely different city is scary, and it won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.