Going Going Gone

October 11, 2007, 6:04 AM

Senior year. Tension is in the air. You're about to graduate, march out in your togas and mortarboards, ready to accept your diploma. Until it hits you...you accepted enrollment at your dream school which also happens to be located halfway across the country.

How does it feel to go that far away from home?
Is it really all that tough, and you just rough it out, or what?

I'm actually applying to a couple colleges and universities out of state. One of them happens to be my dream school and there's a good chance I can get accepted based on merit and academics.

But in the back of my mind is that thought that pulls me back, you know? I'm afraid yet excited at the same time to leave home and lead a life of my own without anyone else guiding me. It's pretty scary.

Anyone else have/had this?

October 11, 2007, 6:10 AM

It is a really scary time. I remember I was so depressed and sad just before leaving for college, even though I got into my first choice school.

At first, it will be difficult. Moving into a completely different surrounding, away from your comfort zone, is always very difficult. You're going to miss home and your friends. That's completely normal. But after a month or two, you'll start to feel more at ease at college. And let me tell you, college is very fun XD You may be nervous and scared at first, but you'll end up having a blast! Oh, and of course *cough* obligatory comment about studies...studying at college is soooosososososo much better than high school. You get to choose classes that actually interest you and the discussions are (for the most part) very engaging and interesting. It never feels like "ugh, this is just busy work."

It is a nerve wracking time...but it's also really exciting! You finally get to move onto a new and very important step in your life! And don't EVER think that you're alone! If you are having a hard time at your college, there are ALWAYS people you can talk to, either its a counselor, a hall monitor (we call them RAs, I'm not sure about other colleges/universities...), or a new friend

In sum: don't worry! It'll be a bit tough at first, but it's sooo worth it

October 11, 2007, 7:15 AM

Ohh boy....I can't really relate to this....

I do not like the idea of dorming at a campus. Sharing a room with unknown person makes me very paranoid. I can't trust people that easily. Also I don't like the fact of being far away from home. As much as I complain about the area I live in I easily get home sick.

October 11, 2007, 7:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cerridwen

Ohh boy....I can't really relate to this....

I do not like the idea of dorming at a campus. Sharing a room with unknown person makes me very paranoid. I can't trust people that easily. Also I don't like the fact of being far away from home. As much as I complain about the area I live in I easily get home sick.

I see what you mean. When / if my stupid ass gets into collage, I'm either taking self defense lessons, a weapon, a nearby school so I can still live at home or an online course. I'm naturally paranoid, but strangers under huge amounts of stress sleeping nearby you? Oh HELL no.

October 13, 2007, 12:48 AM

Honestly, you guys, it's not that bad. I can't believe you'd be so paranoid! I mean, I have a single now, but my roommate in my first year was fine. Sure, she could get annoying, but she was generally a nice girl. Usually the problems you have with a roommate are minor: watching TV too much, playing music while you're trying to study, etc. It's really not that bad. You aren't going to prison; you're going to college

October 14, 2007, 10:19 PM

I already know that I'm going to be going pretty far away, and I've already accepted that I'm going to be terribly homesick. But I can't let that stop be from being everything that I possibly can.

-sigh-

I'm going to miss my classmates, too. I doubt I'll be seeing them anywhere near where I'll be going.

October 15, 2007, 12:17 AM

Well, currently I'm not in school because of unexpected circumstances that happened during high school. But I remember that back then when I was applying for colleges and researching for that dream school, I wanted badly to be far away from home. I guess I just needed that "breathing space" that many people talk about.

I wanted to go to college and learn all what my brain can manage...but far from everyone I knew, including friends. I suppose you could say I was an introvert back then, but I felt that everything and everyone was distracting me from reaching my goals. So that was my reason for wanting to be far away, and using college life as an excuse to execute my wishes.

It just never happened though. =)

October 15, 2007, 12:23 AM

I will most likely make it to my "dream" college with all these crazy classes I'm taking, and when I do I will be soooo happy to get away from this place. My life is so full of stress because of my friggen step dad that I'm going crazy. I have planned out that when I get there me and my friend are gonna rent an apartment or something like that and live together. But I still have two years to go before that happens so things may change.

Anyways, Jeremiah, I bet you'll miss home the first few weeks, and then you'll love being on your own. You can't be with all your friends and family forever ya know.

October 15, 2007, 12:36 AM

Yeah, that's true. It's just one small step to being fully independent. I know I'll be homesick for a while and more so than most people since I'm such an introvert, but I guess in the whole scheme of things that's a silly reason or excuse for giving up a dream college, no matter how far you go away. =D

October 15, 2007, 12:42 AM

I can kind of relate. My dream school is in-state, but it's still a good 8-hour drive away from home.

In my case, it's kind of like the Twilight Zone. Since I'm still in the same state, the culture is generally the same, but there are little nuances here and there that make it different.

Dorming is really fun! It gives you the option to be social 24/7 if you want to, which is great if you don't have any high school friends coming to the same school (it can be really hard to start a whole new group of friends from scratch, but it's manageable!). If you get homesick, all you've got to do is walk across the hall and talk to some friends who you wouldn't have met without dorming - that'll make you really happy that you took a chance and moved away.