The Hardest Goodbye

This is it guys, I have complete and total freedom, well for the most part that is. This afternoon I said goodbye to my parents and Kyle. And man was it a lot harder than I anticipated. I knew that it would be a challenge seeing as how I've lived with them for the past 18 1/2 years and all, but it sank in that I will, in a sense, be completely alone. Sure I have a roommate and friends and what not, but it's not the same as having your family with you or even living in a house and not a dorm-room that reminds you of Orange is the New Black. Seriously white, concrete walls? Who came up with that bright idea?
When you live with your family for that long, you're used to having a schedule-like life. There's a curfew, your parents expect to know where you are and who you're with, they'll engrave into your brain not to do drugs or drink, etc. But now: no curfew, few people care where you are, but oh does Belmont engrave into you that drugs and alcohol are bad. And no I'm not mocking them or anything. I just got back from a 2 and a half hour lecture/seminar on the effects of drugs/alcohol and how they're bad and banned from the campus. I also learned some interesting facts on sexual assault. Apparently alcohol is the #1 drug used in sexual assault crimes in case you were wondering. The seminar was pretty informative, but I love that Belmont bans alcohol and drugs. Now there's no pressure, and little risk of rape happening. 
Okay but back to the goodbye. I knew it had to happen, obviously my family wasn't moving onto campus with me, but still it sucks that I'll be far from them. I knew what I was getting myself into when I applied to Belmont and even when I committed. But I didn't really realize what I was leaving behind at home. All my family, friends, co-workers, and everybody else. 
I have to say though, I was proud of my mom. She wasn't as emotional as I was intending. I'm pretty sure my dad was more upset than she was, which is hugely shocking for anyone that knows my mom. Then there's Kyle who hugged me goodbye and was probably planning on tearing my bedroom wall the second he gets home. 
But for the past 18 years my parents have worked their butts off raising me, and preparing me for this moment. And here I am. At Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee preparing myself for the start of classes on Wednesday. Ironically Wednesday is also my mom's birthday, even more ironic is I also started high school on her birthday. I think the calendar was designed to make my mom cry. 
I know regardless of how sad my parents are that I'm gone, they're super proud of how far I've come in life. And so am I.