I am an only child. I have a sense of what being a despot must have felt like. The words spoiled, selfish and bratty come to mind, and yes, I don’t deny that I’m not all these things. But one thing that I’m not is independent.

I recently graduated high school. All my friends left for far away places all by themselves. I stayed here cushioned by my parents and the familiarity of home.

I didn’t believe that going off somewhere new for college would be for me. In fact, I feared it. And so, I went the community college route. Not a bad one, but also not for everyone.

I’ve enjoyed my time at EC so far. Despite what anyone else says, EC is a great school.

Still, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something. All I see on social media are pictures and videos of my former classmates doing new things and living on their own. For me, it doesn’t even feel like I graduated high school, just that I have moved schools and everyone else is on vacation.

I don’t deny that living with my parents is great, but it is suffocating. I am an 18-year-old who has to be home before dark, has a curfew and, despite having a license, can’t drive myself anywhere, including school.

My only cure for this disease I call the only child syndrome would be to move and go to college elsewhere. Yes, it’s a little extreme, but why not?

Although my original plan was to stay at EC and with my parents for two years, I am now thinking that maybe that isn’t the right path for me. I need to grow up and go on an adventure. That will never happen while I’m here.

I have spoken to my parents about this, and their response didn’t surprise me. They told me I’m not ready to leave, that I wouldn’t like living at a university, and that I have my whole life to explore and go on adventure.

Maybe they’re right, but when will I be ready? How will I know If I’d like living at a university? Why should I wait to grow and do something new when I can do it now?

My parents need to learn how to live without me and, more importantly, me without them.

The schools I am considering and applying to that accept the units I have for next fall are USC (yes, still close to home but I’d be moving), and a school in Arizona. I don’t know what the future holds, if I will stay or if I will go. But I at least want to know that I tried.

If my efforts fail, I still have a home. Maybe I won’t get rid of the only child syndrome yet, but it’s only a matter of time until I do.