Life Hack: Get the hell out of your hometown!

I often get asked why I chose to go so far away from home for college, and among the long list of reasons, the one at the top is that I needed to experience something new. I needed to get out of my comfort zone and see what else the world has to offer. Although it was bittersweet at first, moving across the country was the best decision I’ve ever made.

One of the major reasons I wanted to get out of New England was the weather. I was sick of whiplash from the seasons, going from a blizzard one day to a sunny and warm the next. I also couldn’t stand to be around the type of people that live here anymore. Most are close-minded, rude, and have this weird opinion that New England is the best place in the world to live. Although everybody is entitled to their own opinions, that one is just simply wrong.

I don’t mean to sound stuck up about it or anything, but the climate of society there just isn’t for me. The world has so much more to offer than going to Patriots games every week and a Dunkin’ on every corner.

Moving out of my hometown felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I finally had the chance to be my true self, which isn’t common where I grew up. I got to meet new people, see new things, and gain opportunities to do things like travel to the Middle East for spring break.

I couldn’t be happier with the decision I made to leave. Getting out of an environment that I was so acclimated to helped me grow as an individual and figure out who I really am and what I want to get out of life. Your environment plays a big role in how you think and act, and getting away from it allows you to really evaluate and see yourself in a different light. I made friends based on common interests and who they are as human beings instead of just being friends because we grew up together. Of course I still talk to a few of the friends I grew up with, but people often grow apart and distance can definitely speed up the process. Moving away from New England opened my eyes to the fact that it’s okay to be friends with people who aren’t in my “friend group” and that it’s okay to not want to be involved with people who don’t make me happy. This was a really hard lesson for me to learn, but I’m grateful every day that I finally figured it out.

Leaving my hometown also helped me realize what I want to do for the rest of my life; travel the world. There are definitely pros and cons to this though. On one hand, I get to experience all of the amazing things that the world has to offer. I get to try new foods, meet new people, and learn about new cultures. On the other hand, I'm missing out on time with my family and friends and the life I have at home. As hard as it is to be away and miss out on things, it’s always so much fun to come home and see everybody again.

I guess I could go on about this topic for a while, but I’ll leave it at this: get out of your comfort zone and go see the world! Your hometown will always be there when you get back, and the years you waste doing the same routine there are years that you could be spending seeing the rest of the world and all that it has to offer you.