By Kara Augustine

Independence
Probably the best thing that college has to offer is independence. After spending 18 or 19 years living at home with Mom and Dad, college helps bring out a different personality that only arises in the absence of parents’ rules. Students can no longer rely on their moms to wake them up for school. A new level of responsibility appears in you when your parents can no longer be blamed for your tardiness to work or school.

Leave the hometown bubble
Every hometown is different, but college helps students escape the tiny locations they may have lived in all their lives. Not everyone knows each other’s business and no one will call your mom if they spot you getting into something you shouldn’t be. College allows students to see that diversity actually exists in this world and that there are more opportunities outside of the sometimes secluded hometowns.

Realize the importance of family
Living with family can create a lot of tension between parents, kids and siblings. During college, separation from the same people who make you want to pull your hair out can make you miss them greatly. College helps students realize that, despite their excitement to escape the wrath of parental rules and guidelines, the presence and unmatchable love of these people are quickly missed.

Get to take classes that pertain to what you want to do
Although general education courses do not usually directly pertain to desired majors, most classes will apply to the career path of choice. You do not have to unwillingly choose to take choir or play an instrument for the school band. There are more choices for classes than high school had to offer.

One-semester courses
It is not a huge deal, but it is an aspect of college that makes it better than high school. If you do not like a course or the professor teaching it, you usually will only have to deal with it for one semester. One-semester classes also allow you to take more of a variety of courses within a school year.

Find out who are your true friends from home
Not seeing high school friends every day can lead to many friendships falling apart. The true friendships made in high school will make themselves evident. Effort is required by both parties in order to ensure that a friendship will last. For those who do keep in contact and make the effort to stay informed about each other’s lives, the already resilient friendships can become stronger than ever. With true friendships, hundreds of miles will not make a difference in the strength of the relationship.

Fresh start
Sometimes people just need a fresh start—a chance to get away from everyone they know. College can do this. Not everyone knows each other’s baggage. Frankly, most people don’t care. Experiencing different surroundings and more diversity can make people more accepting of differences and help make them less judgmental. College is the perfect place for starting over and making a new impression.

No curfew
Whether it is 11:00, 12:30 or 3:30, it doesn’t matter in college. Parents are not heckling their kids when it is time to go to bed, because they are not under the same roof. It is up to you to decide when to go to bed, not anyone else. There is no more rushing home, 30 miles over the legal speed limit, in order to arrive home before curfew. Curfews are no more, and it’s amazing.

Self-discovery
As mentioned before, college is a time for you to get away from your parents and make your own decisions. College students can join clubs that interest them, take classes that they couldn’t take in high school, meet people with the same interests, and discover who they really are. A lot of developing as a person occurs during college years. It can be intimidating to move away from home, but it can make you into an even better person than you were in high school.

Less drama
Sure, drama still exists in college, but not nearly to the extent that it did in high school. Escaping high school drama is such a relief. Most people have much better things to worry about and literally could care less about getting into petty fights about why a person didn’t sit by them at lunch. Usually, if drama is something you want to avoid, you will have no problem finding non-dramatic friends who also want to avoid such situations.