"Who doesn't know what I'm talking about, who's never left home who's never struck out, to find a dream and a life of their own, a place in the clouds a foundation of stone. Many precede and many will follow, a young girl's dream no longer hollow. It takes a shape of a place out west, but what it holds for her she hasn't yet guessed. She needs.... wide open spaces, room to make some big mistakes, she needs new faces she knows the highest stakes. She traveled this road as a child, wide eyed and grinning she never tired. But now she wont be coming back with the rest, if these are life's lessons she'll take this test."

If one paragraph or a few short sentences could sum up my feelings for the past few years it would be just that. "She needs wide open spaces" A hit song by the Dixie Chicks, compelling feelings and aspirations to get out on your own, to be totally independent and get away. To walk away from the everyday life and environment you have grown to adapt yourself to. Although stakes being high, in reference to leaving family and friends, it will be well worth the possible disappointment that may follow.

How important is it to leave your hometown, your friends,

At first, I was a bit skeptical of the idea. Could I really leave my circle of friends and family to pursue my education that far away? Of course, they are all away themselves but the majority of them only an hour or two drive away. Going to Arizona would mean a thirty two-hour drive or a plane ride home. I will only be in Ohio a few times throughout the school year is what this comes down to. I pondered the idea every day and then made the decision that I really needed to go for a student visit and tour after considering the idea more seriously. So my friend and I went and had a very good time. Clear sky's filled with more stars than ever imagined, warm weather, palm trees, mountains and the beautiful horizon in every direction. I met some great people along with that. We were completely taken in by everyone we met and shown a very welcoming and generally great time.

To live in a "dreaded" dorm with complete strangers, to share shower stalls and restrooms with a floor full of people you have never met in your life. To wake up at 7:00am to walk to early classes after staying up all hours of the night studying for yet another political science exam. Welcome to a world full of sleepless nights and endless responsibilities. E-mail becomes your second language, asleep by 2:30 am is an early night, procrastination is an art form, Instant Messenger becomes an addiction, one meal a day is standard and nothing is clean unless its family weekend and freshman orientation.

My weekdays are always long and to say the least tedious. Driving every day back and forth from Beavercreek to Middletown became a dreaded chore and I hate every minute of it. I started out with a brand new 2000 Honda Civic my senior year and on the first day of college, with only 5,000 miles and as of now there are over 30,000 miles on it. I have run my car into the ground practically. Visiting my friends away at their schools has most defiantly contributed to that factor though. Any free time I have, I am in a far away city living it up with my friends who have the privilege of being where they want to be to study. Sometimes I act as if it is me that attends the college with them, fascinate that I don't have to go home and sleep in the same house as my mom (like I have for nineteen long years), that its me who is rushing a sority. Staying up all hours of the night drinking in my dorm with as many of my new friends on my floor that can fit in the room, or crawling out of b!

I leave for Arizona State this summer, August 9th 2001 and these next four months are dragging along with the excitement of going to such a beautiful place to go to school. On the other hand, they are flying by knowing I only have four more months to stay this close with my friends. I know that over the years, my circle of friends will go on to pursue careers, families and lives of their own. Unfortunately, I also realize that eventually my 'circle of friends' that I talk to on a regular basis, will only consist of a few, merely because time will play that toll. I guess my time has just come sooner to move on and that is exactly what I am going to do

ed in my pajamas to run across the street to class seems great to me. This entire lifestyle is all that I want and Miami Middletown is hardly an ultimatum.

When my community college choices were slim, I decided to go with Miami Middletown, a small school outside of Cincinnati, that is a branch school of Miami University. It only made sense to go to a Miami affiliated school since when the fall comes it will be Miami University that I intend on attending. Another benefit to attending Miami Middletown is I can at least say, "I go to Miami" and receive Miami credentials. Rather then

Some common words found in the essay are:
Miami Middletown, Tempe Arizona, University Ohio, Spirit Week, Instant Messenger, , Honda Civic, School School, Wright University, Dixie Chicks, miami middletown, miami university, community college, friends family, attending miami middletown, tempe arizona, school definitely, wide spaces, wright university, 'going away', staying night,
Approximate Word count = 2499
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)