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Living on campus was an experience. It was fun and exciting … and it was really, really hard.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to go. I knew that living on-campus was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Still, the idea of moving into a building full of strangers scared the snot out of me.

I’d lived in my hometown for 18 of my 19 years of life. I knew I would miss my friends and family and the comfort zone I’d been cocooned in. To top it off, I was shy. Really shy. The thought of being surrounded 24/7 by people I didn’t know gave me butterflies the size of 747’s.

But you know what? Dorm living was one of the best experiences of my life.

Within the first week my dorm room felt at home. I met people on my floor, joined the residence hall governing board, and made some fantastic friends. Friends I still keep in touch with. Friends I’ve watched graduate, get their first post-college jobs, get married and move around the country.

Moving in wasn’t easy. It took courage and a huge leap of faith in myself. But because I did it, I grew in ways I never expected. I learned I could thrive in a new place. I learned I could turn strangers into friends and I learned I was stronger than I thought possible.

That’s what college will be about for you. Not just attending classes and taking tests, but figuring out who you are. I bet you’ll like what you find.