I just started school at a pretty big university an hour away from home. It takes adjusting, and it does suck to be away from your support network, but ultimately I feel that I'm benefiting from it and it will be worth the pain.
However, community college isn't less valuable. It's usually cheaper and you can get just as good of an education if you're willing to put in the work. You might not get "top" professors, but that doesn't mean you can't be an awesome student and writer.

Do your best to make friends: be involved in clubs and on-campus events, go to study groups, talk to people even if you don't feel very comfortable, hang out in the student building (we call it the student union building here), and have fun! College isn't as scary as you will feel it is.

Utilize the student health center if there is one, and seek help when you need it. I recently went to the student counseling center because I've been feeling really suicidal, and they helped a lot despite it just being a triage session.

Never take out loans - stick to grants and scholarships. It's not too hard to get them, you just need to look for them and apply. (Google them! I just found over a dozen I can apply to.)

College is all about staying motivated and being proactive. As long as you focus on what you need to do, you'll be okay. I keep a planner and make sure I write down everything I need to get done each day.

I hope this helps at least a little bit.