Freedom and its price: Moving out

Photo by John Benson via Flickr

Luis Santana/Opinion Director

I am a commuter student. I drive from one environment to another almost every day of the week. I go to school –  a place of fun and excitement, but also stress –  and afterwards I drive home – a place that should be a sanctuary, but most times isn’t.

My father got remarried about five years ago and had twin girls two years ago. During this time, I have seen what child rearing is and what it’s like to have babies.  I tell people jokingly, “I feel like ‘16 and Pregnant,’ except I didn’t do anything wrong.”

While my dad is rebuilding his life with a new wife, I go to bed wondering every night when my chance will be. When will I leave the cacophony I’ve known for a quiet sanctuary of my own?

I could’ve been living in a dorm on-campus or an apartment had I tried harder in high school, but I wasn’t in that mind-set. I thought I wasn’t going to go to college and just enlist in the military, but something happened – I decided not to go and instead followed the college route. Due to lack of funds, I became the commuter student that I am today.

I’m sure many commuter students feel the same way I do, wishing they could live on their own, but for one reason for another they can’t. I’m sure that I’m one of many who is asking: What steps do we need to take to live on our own?

What lengths do we have to be willing to go to live on our own? Are we too comfortable with what we have at home to leave it and live on our own?

At home I have my insurances covered, a bed and food. If I moved out, I wouldn’t have those things. I know that soon I would get my foot in the door of jobs and then things like insurance or other expenses would fall into place, but why am I reluctant to take that first leap?

I know people my age who have moved out of their houses along with some roommates and are doing just fine. I’m sure they can’t afford the luxuries that those who live with their parents can afford, but they have the one commodity the rest of us so desperately desire: freedom.

When will we stop being afraid of what may be and take that first step into the large world of independence? When will we tighten our belts and forsake the luxuries in exchange for a level of pride in independence?

We won’t until we dive headlong into the unknown; not with reckless abandon, but instead with a level of understanding. We need to do our research, budget and remind ourselves everyday why we want to move out. We move out to have the freedom we so desire.