“Last day home” and “It’s been real guys, see you at Christmas!” Slowly everyone from my grade is making the journey to their new respective homes for the year: college. I am about to “embark on the next chapter of my life” along with all of the other people I graduated with three months ago. Corny clichés aside, this is the first time many people are living away from home. 

A sleep away camp kid myself, at first I felt like living in a new place is not going to be an issue. But I have never lived somewhere new AND had to deal with homework. At college, my mom isn’t there to tell me it would be a good idea to finish my calc review BEFORE I go out with friends. At college, I actually have to remember to wash my sheets myself. And that brings me to my next point. College is without the safe encumbrances of mom and dad. 

At 18, we are pretty independent, but our parents or guardians have always been there to remind us of deadlines, feed us, clothe us, and make sure we are headed down the right track. At college they still exist, but miles away, only over phone or Skype. College is the most freedom we have ever experienced, and it’s a little overwhelming.  But the best thing to all of this nervousness and newness is that everyone else is experiencing it too.

All freshmen are in the same boat. That first meal is awkward for everyone; meeting your new roommate is awkward too. I know that there is only so much Facebook stalking I can do because it won’t be until I meet her and say “Hi I’m Allison” that I will have any idea who she really is. Even then, who has perfect first impressions anyway? Meeting new people, being in a new place, learning new things; going to college is all about new, new, new. But its okay really. To quote a movie that will probably (but hopefully not) mark our generation, as Troy Bolton said “We are all in this together.” We are not the first or the last people to head off to college and whatever mistakes we make along the way are okay, and definitely expected. It won’t be goodbye, just until adios until Thanksgiving. Now what I really have to worry about is not gaining the Freshman 15…

Are you waiting to hear back from your college of choice? Not going to college at all? Or still a few years away from dealing with any of it? Tell us your story in the comments!

Allison is 18 and from Bethesda, Maryland. She is a member of The National Campaign’s Youth Leadership Team. Nothing makes her happier than crime drama marathons, especially back-to-back episodes of Bones. Have a question for Allison? Email us!