Moving from high school to college can be a tough change. It is for many teenagers! What’s often the hardest thing to deal with is being on your own. Not that you’ll be homesick, or miss you parents. The chance that may be most difficult is no longer having parents around to constantly watch over you and support you. When you’re in high school you can come home after a tough sports practice and dinner will be waiting for you. If you get sick, there’s always someone to take care of you; if you need money, a ride, or just about anything, Mom or Dad will be there to help you out. College is different. You’re on you own and many times all alone. The ball is now in your court; you’re a one woman or one man team.

Many college freshmen have a hard time handling all this freedom. Sure, on the surface life seems perfect, no one to nag you, tell you what you can and can’t do, when to go to bed, or how late you can stay out, etc. There’s no one who checks up on whether or not you go to class, complete your assignments, or study enough for the exam. College professors are just teachers and graders, not hand holders or supervisors. Having all this freedom is one of the privileges which comes with getting older and going away to college. But like every other privilege, freedom holds within it both opportunity and danger. Just as people have the opportunity to drive or drink when they are legally of age, there is the danger that some will use this opportunity foolishly. They may drive much too fast or without seat belts; some may have too many beers and then get into a car to drive.

Not every high school graduate can find the money to go to college. Those who are lucky enough to enjoy that opportunity can’t afford the cost of dangerously using the independence and freedom they find there.