Skyline in Cleveland, Ohio.
Eric Drost/Wikimedia Commons

Leaving my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I was excited and terrified simultaneously. Although I had been planning to leave for about five years, the closer I came to the departure date, the more I was filled with fear, anxiety, sadness, and doubt. My feelings were strong, and they overwhelmed me, rendering me unable to function.