Hi all,
I'm a junior in high school right now, and with the ACT coming up in a couple weeks, I have really been thinking about college lately. I live in Mid-Michigan, close to a community college that would be really cheap for me to start out at right after high school. Grand Valley State University is a couple hours away, just outside of Grand Rapids. I would much rather go away to school instead of staying at home for another two years. The problem, though, is my anxiety issue. I am very much an introvert, and my social anxiety has been a huge problem for years. My parents feel it would be better for me to stay close to home for awhile to "become more responsible". I talked with my therapist about this today, and she thinks it would do me some good to get out on my own sooner rather than later. I've created a sort of mental Pros & Cons list to help me decide...what do you guys think? Any advice?
Pros of going away
More independence
Being around a lot of people (sort of like exposure therapy for my anxiety)
More freedom
Fresh start in a new area
Being exposed to a whole new environment
Cons of going away
Higher tuition costs
Will probably be a huge anxiety trigger
I will have to end with my current therapist in the next year and a half
What if I am so afraid of meeting new people that I become a total loner?
Here's something I didn't mention before...I currently live in an area of Michigan that is notorious for crime and blight. My parents have pressured me for years to get out of here as soon as possible, and I plan to. That alone is enough to make my decision for me. If I chose to leave after all, I will really miss the comfort and security of my home, parents and therapist. But if I pass up the opportunity, I'll probably regret not taking the chance to explore new things.
What do you guys think?
__________________
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