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Amanda Maggiore

Why You Should Move Away After College

It’s time to pack up your crap and move! Yes, that is right. College is over. Your life is just now beginning. This is your opportunity to make a huge impact on your life and move somewhere for new opportunities, different experiences, and diverse people and mindsets.

Yes, leaving the nest is so hard. We all have family and friends we are attached to at home, but this is your time to grow. The best people in your life will support you in trying something new and moving on to bigger and better things. As long as you prioritize keeping a strong relationship with the people that matter most, the distance won’t feel so hard.


Why should you move away after college? Here is what I have learned since living on my own in a brand new city.


You Find Yourself

Might be cheesy but hear me out. You are in a place where all you have to rely on is yourself. No one else is around the be your safety net. You begin to notice the tiniest details about yourself that you never picked up on before. For example, what you do to disturb the deafening silence in your home, the habits you have and how good or bad they are, and how much you prioritize yourself in your day-to-day life. When you are living in college or even at home, you do not always get the space to sit with yourself for a long period of time. You are easily influenced by those around you and are not always making decisions for yourself. Now you have the time and space to really let yourself thrive on your own.


You will notice how much you will grow and need to grow. Being on your own exposes the strong and weak parts of your life and shows you with open arms what you can do to be a better person. You can now dictate all that happens, each day, and grant yourself the opportunities to keep developing into the human you want to become.


Staring at the new you in the mirror is almost unrecognizable after a while because you have gone through so much change, both good and bad. Every step that you have endured to get you to this moment has shaped you. Embrace the uncomfortable feeling and begin creating a whole new you in post-grad life.


The Memories are Priceless

Our culture has become a “do it for the memories and stories” society where people are doing as much as they can, even if it is the craziest thing they have ever done. I agree with this mindset. Do it for the memories. When will you have the chance to move somewhere completely new and start a new life? Sure, there might be a few opportunities in life but they are not abundant. Take advantage of the opportunities to experience priceless moments with you and the people you meet.


One of the best ways to get to know where you moved, is to explore. Exploring your city, county, and state gives you a new appreciation for the place you live. There is so much to do for free that you could do in your free time when you want to do something new like find new hikes, walk around local farmers markets, visit free museums and historic sites, scour the internet for free concerts, take a picnic to the park, and bike around the designated paths to take in the beauty of the area just to name a few. If you are looking to spend just a bit of money exploring, I recommend setting an “exploring” budget and doing or seeing at least one new thing every month. Keep yourself active and exposed to constant new things that grow your appreciation for the area.


Make memories by doing things. Never stop trying to see and do new things and build your library of memories. Take photos or videos of your experiences so you can remember all the places you went. You never know how long you have in this current home, so take advantage while you can!


Expand Your Network

Let’s face it, you have not been exposed to the majority of humanity. Me either! That’s why moving somewhere new pushes you to get started on meeting and experiencing different people. People are different everywhere you go, despite popular belief. It is easy to find people that match your values and character even when you move to different cities. Getting to know more people can be a blessing and you never know what opportunities could come from meeting different individuals.


It is good to keep your older friends close but it is even better to find people that will help you grow. Find others that have the same goals as you and will push you to achieve your dreams. These people may be few but the impact they make is great.


Meeting people is at your fingertips and it is easy to find groups on apps like Meetup, find friends on Bumble BFF, or just simply go to the dog park or gym. People are everywhere, just smile and say hello once in a while!


Food Is Life

I am a big foodie. This is ironic because I used to be a very picky eater. Regardless, every city has its food staples. When I moved to Dallas, I noticed there was no shortage of local eats to indulge in. It is hard not to go to a new place every night.


Deep dive into unfamiliar flavors by trying as many local restaurants as you can. You not only support a small business in your community, but you get exposed to all different kinds of flavors, smells, and experiences. Food has a way of bringing people together in the most fun yet fulfilling way. Make it a goal to venture out at least once a month to a new restaurant to try something new and exciting. Get your taste buds tingling with the best flavors in your town. That way you not only feel like a local, but you begin to understand the culture behind the area you now live in.


Moving away is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, but likely a great one. You are one move away from beginning your next chapter in life. Take the leap, and move to a new place after college.


What College Didn't Teach Me talks about the twists and turns of moving to a new place, by yourself! Check out our book to help you navigate the beginning of your post-grad life.


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2023年5月03日
評等為 5(最高為 5 顆星)。

I never considered this but I will definitely after reading this great points!

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