BY ALEXANDRA PASSAUR  |   Blake High

Stepping out of your comfort zone is a universal high school experience, from the time you leave middle school to the time you graduate. Being willing to go beyond the comfortable helps you grow.  •  To leave your comfort zone after high school, how far will you go, literally? How far away from home will you go for college? •  Especially if you have a Florida Prepaid tuition plan, going out of state to college isn’t something you’ve probably thought much about. But if you have the luxury (scholarships, or your parents just won the Lottery), so many positive experiences and opportunities can come out of going to a college past the state line.

Growing up
When you’re on your own and mom or dad are not just a quick drive away, you are forced to do things on your own that you might not otherwise.  Somehow, not having that nearby security blanket, you’re likely to learn independence faster.

More life exposure
Living in Florida can be sunshine, fun and games, but that’s not all life has to offer. The diversity of other regions helps you better understand the United States. Southern hospitality or Midwest friendliness aren’t just catchy phrases, they describe ways of life different than you may be used to. Certainly, your home state is different from the states of New England. You’ll broaden your horizons, not just your education.

New surroundings
Florida beaches are good for vacations, but there’s more to scenery than surf and sand. Colorado has beautiful mountains. Nebraska gets tons of snow. North Carolina gets the best of the scenic and meteorologic worlds. Not everywhere in the United States is flat and humid. Despite Florida’s incomparable winters, you might find you like a change of scenery and weather.

Satisfaction
If you have to work hard to get into a school with tough admissions standards, say an elite Ivy League school, hard work will seem like nothing once you start your first semester. You’ll be so prepared for the rigor, and you may not even need to take as many classes if you have taken them in high school.