Thinking it Through

Before I can decide on a major, a college, or my future life, I need to take a hard look at what I really enjoy, what I can't live without, and what I can't live with. Some of this is high level, and some of it isn't. Do I enjoy making long trips from college to visit family? Do I really enjoy washing my own clothes, preparing my own meals? Or do I like to linger at home a little longer. There are no easy answers, and the are pros and cons to each decision. Living independently is a big step, but am I really an adult at age eighteen? Perhaps it would be advantageous not to subject myself to too many choices, and decisions so early in my life. School is hard enough, without trying to be an adult about it. I need to portion out time for fun, time for study, and even time to have a part-time job to earn some money. Of course, I don't need to make these decisions immediately. That is part of thinking it through. So my first job, is to develop a checklist of those things that I consider essentials, and those qualities that I value, and perhaps break them down into two categories. Colleges near home where I could still live near my parents, and colleges not near home where I would have to live independently. If more of those qualities that I find essential can fit only in the colleges near home category, that would be an easy choice to make. I think.