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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Tampa chapter.

I feel like I have really grown as a person and started to open my eyes to the world around me since I have been in college for almost a full year, and my freshman year is about to end. After enrolling in college, I’ve begun to appreciate all I’ve discovered about others as well as myself. Leaving home, which is about a thousand miles away, was quite difficult, but I feel that I have grown more self-assured and independent as a result. And while I’ve learned a lot about college, here are five things I’ve discovered about being on my own and the college experience. 

  1. Finding independence for yourself

 Being away from home has taught me how to be very independent and discover ways to do things on my own without always needing other people to keep me busy. Whether it be getting a cup of coffee or tea, relaxing in my hammock while reading, or even just listening to music while working out, I feel as if I have discovered a variety of ways to keep myself busy and occupy my time when I’m feeling lonely.

  1. Getting to know a wide range of people

 I’ve discovered that there are so many people with different backgrounds when I go out and meet people or even when I meet classmates, and I’ve gained knowledge from their various lifestyles. I have friends from all over the state and even from various counties. It’s really interesting to learn about all of their various backgrounds and viewpoints on particular topics. 

  1. Discovering new locations

I believe that if I had gone to school at home, I would never have had the opportunity to visit so many different places or experience so much. I’ve had the opportunity to explore every aspect of Tampa and the surrounding area, including downtown, Gasparilla, several beaches, and simply exploring new areas by walking around. Despite the fact that I’m mostly just exploring places in Florida, it has taught me about what it’s like to live somewhere other than home and how someone who lives here goes about their daily life.

  1. Setting goals

For me, I’ve discovered that I need to create goals for myself and have something to look forward to in order to get through a challenging week or even upcoming weeks. I always try to find a few things to look forward to throughout the week, whether it’s meeting up with friends on the weekend, treating myself to a tasty treat or simple coffee, or taking a break by unwinding at the river walk or pool. I make an effort to keep my workload manageable, so I always have to find enjoyable things to look forward to in order to balance it out.

  1. Staying present 

Being away from home can be difficult, and I sometimes find myself trying to stay in touch with friends and family members really often, but after spending the entire year at school, I’ve come to the realization that I should balance it out by trying to concentrate more on what I am doing here at school than what is going on at home. I do have times where I really miss my loved ones back home, but I’ve learned to focus entirely on staying present and not being so focused on home.

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Taylor Quinn is a social media manager and writer for Her Campus at Tampa chapter. She is part of the social media team who posts regularly for Her Campus events and updates as well as engaging with viewers and followers. Her articles cover a variety of subjects, including pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. Taylor is a sophomore at the University of Tampa who is majoring in both Film and Communications, Media, and Culture. She has worked on numerous student film sets and is currently a member of a number of clubs at the University of Tampa, including Tampa's Cru, a religious organization, and being a student mentor to incoming freshmen. Taylor is from Kansas City, Missouri and enjoys exploring big cities, watching movies playing her guitar, listening to music, and adventuring new places.