1,890 miles. I am 1,000, 800 and 90 miles away from my home. Specifically, I am 1,890 miles from my family, my dog and everything that is familiar to me. When people talk about going to school out of state, they only talk about the positive and exciting things they will experience. What they forget to mention, is some of the struggles that all students will have face when going to school in another state.
To begin with, you are totally blind-sided by the fact that you want to move away from home and become more independent. All that is on your mind is escaping or leaving the only place that is familiar. While everyone else is picking school close to home or somewhat near home, you look at schools far enough away that your parents can’t visit you randomly. The ones that are so far away that weekend trips home will be impossible. Now that you’re at school, these are the things you wish you would have considered when you were making your college decision. Here are a few things all out-of-staters will experience once leaving home.
You experience the honeymoon phase
This usually occurs during the first month of school. You’re so excited to be away from home, that you barely have the time to think about missing it. You’re busy meeting new people, adjusting to classes and living in a dorm. Thinking about home is not even on your mind. You are enjoying your new environment and soaking up everything like a little sponge. All the unfamiliarity around you is something you want to learn about, so any emotions about missing home are being blocked out of your mind.
You find out homesickness is real
After about a month or so you begin to hear people talk about missing home, so you assume that you too must do the same. The only difference is, it’s a lot easier for them to go home than it is for you. Maybe your roommate or classmate next to you will complain about missing home, which is a short two or three hour car ride for them and that will easily cure their homesickness. You however, have to deal with planes, trains, buses and even an additional car ride just to make it somewhat close to home. This feeling is something all out-of-state students feel within their first three months of leaving home.
The smallest things will remind you of home
You begin to miss the little things that would bother you at home. Whether that be the smell of your kitchen, your mom waking you up in the mornings or just sleeping in your own bed. We have all been in that position where all you want to do is see your pet and snuggle up in your bed. This feeling only increases when someone else talks about their home.
You often utilize several modes of transportation to get home
There is no simple way to get home. Flights and trains have to be booked way in advance to get the best price. You want to get home as fast as possible to enjoy the little time you have there. Whether it takes a car ride, a plane ride, a bus, or even all three, when you finally make it home, you realize all the traveling was worth it.
You might feel like an outsider
Yes, college is about finding yourself and figuring out who you are. But, you want to know that you are accepted where you are. Even when no one around you understands your “yeah brah I shredded those waves” language or when you describe the “dankest burrito” you’ve ever eaten. You try and explain something from your hometown or city but people at your school never truly understand it. However, know that is a regular part of college. If we didn’t have those people from different places we wouldn’t learn about different cultures.
People may think you are crazy for leaving home
While you might think moving to a different state is cool and different, others may not understand why you did it. Some people may think that where you are from is beautiful, and don’t understand why you would want to leave it. Next time someone asks why you chose to attend this school, explain why living in this town and attending school is so wonderful.
You no longer take Family time for granted
Spending time with your family will be something you look forward to. You’ll be so excited to see them, and you may even discover that it will be like you never left home. It’s even better when your family comes to visit. You’re able to show them around campus for the first time since they dropped you off. Spending time with your family will remind you that no matter how far away you go, they will always be there for you.
Dining court food will never compare to home-cooked meals
There will always be certain things that can never compete with food from home. Yes, the first couple of trips to the dining courts will be a food overload. But shortly after, you’ll begin to miss home-cooked meals. Even the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches your mom would make you. Anything you try that is remotely similar will still be nothing like the food at home.
You will value your time at home
Going on breaks will be something you put on your calendar the first day you arrive on campus. You’ll especially look forward to going home during stressful weeks. What you’ll appreciate the most when you finally get home is eating all your favorite foods, spending time with your family and of course seeing your pets. By the time you trip is over, you’ll wish you had more time. You learn to spend your time wisely at home instead of wasting time on things that aren’t important.
You know there is no place like your home state
Once you arrive at home, a sense of familiarity will flood your body. You will enjoy every last minute of it until the moment you have to leave again for school. Time at home is the best way for out-of-state kids to recuperate for classes and of course there is no other place like it.
So, going out of state for college is a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are things in-state students may never understand about your home state, but this is how we learn new things. In college where we are constantly learning new ideas, meeting someone from a different state may open your mind to new things about the country you live in. College is supposed to be the greatest time in your life, so why not spend it living somewhere new?