Why wouldn’t you want to travel out of state for college? Most people can agree that traveling is a great way to gain experience and have a good time while doing it. When I graduated high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, I moved to New York to go to college. Leaving home for school was the best thing that ever happened to me. It has not only provided me with new cultural knowledge but also helped me appreciate my home state even more. Leaving home for college may be a difficult quest but the outcome could be quite beneficial.

1) Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Leaving your home state for college may be difficult because you have to leave friends and family behind. One of the main reasons for leaving your home state for college is to build new relationships with new people and start fresh. Getting out of your comfort zone is a great way to build confidence and character. It also allows you to appreciate what you have back home.

2) Gain Cultural Knowledge

Traveling to an out of state college can help you gain a lot more cultural knowledge. It allows you a chance to learn more about your country and gain knowledge of different places. When I moved from the South to the Northeast, I began to realize a lot of similarities between the two different cultures, although I did find that the two are completely different in their own ways. Moving to another state can open your eyes to new people so that you may be able to interact and learn new things from them.

3) Allows You to Appreciate Home More

When you leave your home state that you are so accustomed to, it is only human nature to miss the comfort and stability that it provided you. You may be leaving your friends and family behind and long for their company. Going to school out of state may become lonely and it gives you time to sit back and think about how much home really means to you. Being away from home may also open your mind to new realizations such as wanting to move back after completing your college career. When I moved to New York, I realized that I fit in better in Arkansas and that I want to live there for the rest of my life. Being so far away from home helped me to appreciate everything I have back home that will be waiting for me when I return.

4) Independence Booster

Going to college in your home state may be nice, but you aren’t exactly escaping the feeling of control that you felt under your parents roof. Every kid anticipates the day that they can move away from their parents tyranny and become independent. Going to school out of state allows you to become more independent. Being all alone in a new state without anyone telling you what to do can be a difficult transition at first, but once you’re accustomed to it you are re-born as a new independent individual and you can make your own decisions. Independence is the single greatest thing about living in America, why not utilize it?

5) Make a New Life For Yourself

Growing up and going to school with the same people your whole life can be a great way to earn life long friends. But to those friends you will always be the same person you have been your whole life. Traveling out of state for college gives you a chance to be anyone you want to be. Who you are in high school no longer will carry over to who you are in college. You’re presented a chance to be anyone you want to be.