by Ta Pace

Created on: June 04, 2009   Last Updated: June 08, 2009

Leaving your parents behind and taking the big leap to live on your own is the best decision a new college student should make. While living at home, most kids are pampered. Their laundry gets done, meals are cooked for them, they do not have to pay rent or bills, they do not have to go grocery shopping or keep the house clean, etc.. Moving away from home when you go to college is a huge eye opener. As scary as it sounds, you now have to take responsibility for yourself and be mature. You must learn how to cook, clean, spend your money wisely, study on your own, and plenty of other things. You have to learn to crack the whip on yourself, because there is no one there to tell you what or when to do things.

When I moved two hours away from home to go to college, I was lost. I had no idea how to do laundry, or push myself to study, and I did not have my parents telling me to clean my room or ordering me around. I felt free, however, I learned to grow up very quickly.

Living in the dorms my first year of college was not that bad. The only responsibilities I had to take on were cleaning, doing laundry, and pushing myself to study. At the time, I felt as if that was way too much to handle. But, I managed to do it and decided to move into a house with five other girls my second year of college.

Living in a house not only made me have more responsibilities, but it made me grow up very quickly. I had to learn to do things all on my own, including paying bills. In order to pay the bills, I had to get a job on top of going to school. My life became very stressful very fast, but I managed to get through the year.

Now that I am about to graduate and have plenty of experience living away from home, I have matured greatly over the years from living by myself. I have learned to take on responsibilities and fend for myself. I am a much cleaner and neater person now, than I was when i lived at home. I also enjoy cleaning, cooking, and knowing how responsible and mature I have become. Living on my own also made me appreciate my parents a lot more. I realized how much they did for me when I was living at home and how stressful their lives have to be with going to work, supporting themselves, and then coming home to take care of me and my brother, also.

I believe that living away from your parents when you go to college is the best option. If you live at home, you will not get to take on the responsibilities and it will be harder in the end to move away from home and fend for yourself. Living away from home is an eye opener and teaches you how to be mature and responsible. It also makes you appreciate your parents that much more.

Learn more about this author, Ta Pace.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.