My heavy eyes opened to the piercing buzz of my alarm clock.  The sun’s light was not yet peeking, and darkness filled my room. As I turned on my glittering lamp, reality hit me in my face.  I suddenly felt a knot in my stomach as I remembered that I was leaving for college tour today.  This trip would be my first significant experience away from my family and my first plane ride.  Being so far away from my family for ten days was going to be a big challenge for me.  I jumped out of my bed, put on the black and white chevron dress that I had hung out the night before, and brushed my fiery locks.  With my stomach as twisted as a pretzel, I carefully studied my packing list ensuring that I had not forgotten any vital items.  My suitcase felt like a ton of bricks as I slowly rolled it to the door.  The strong aroma of salty bacon lingered in the air; however, I did not eat because my stomach was churning with nervousness.  On the short drive to the airport, my heart started pounding out of my chest, and a few tears trickled from my glossy eyes.   A sense of doubt began to creep into my mind as I wondered if I was going to be able to go through with the trip.  I felt my mother take my hand as her reassuring words filled my ears.  My heart returned to a normal thumping, and a sense of excitement escaped from my imprisoning fear. 
After placing my small bag into the cramped compartment overhead, I took the seat between the window and my friend. I waited anxiously for several minutes until a loud voice announced the plane would soon take off.  My stomach turned inside out again when the plane began to take flight, and I felt a small sense of comfort as I squeezed the hand of my friend.  I steadily chewed my stick of spearmint gum so my ears would not become clogged.  After about ten minutes, I was brave enough to glance outside of the window and saw the tiny specks of houses.  I felt as if I was floating on the massive, white clouds surrounding me.  A sense of peace overcame me, and my face lightened with a wide smile. I knew that the hard part was over, and in a short time, I would be back on the ground. My fear had turned to bubbling excitement.
After the plane ride, our first stop was New York City, and my eyes filled with wonder.  Extraordinary, tall buildings pierced the sky, the sidewalks were congested with crowds of people, and bumper-to-bumper vehicles with blowing horns filled the streets.  I felt like a young child in a candy store as the voices of the never-ending attractions called out to me. That evening I attended the musical, Pippin, on Broadway.  The show was an eye-popping extravaganza with high-flying acrobatics, wondrous magical feats, and soaring sounds.  I was bubbling with excitement when I got to hug and take a picture with the star of the show.  By the time I got back to the hotel, I was exhausted from the full day of activity.  I took a soothing, warm bath and soaked my weary feet.  After my bath, I let my fingers do the talking as I texted my family to inform them of the day’s highlights.  My mom reminded me to take an Advil to help me sleep through the night.  As soon as I placed my head on the fluffy, white pillow, I began to feel my eyes become as heavy as weights. 
The next thing I knew, I was being awakened by the sound of my buzzing alarm.  I had made it through my first night, and I felt a sense of pride.  Each consecutive day brought a greater sense of ease and excitement, and by the end of the trip, I was forgetting to call home.  Doubt and fear was replaced with excitement, and I did not want the trip to end.  I had experienced a taste of independence, and I liked this new freedom.  From that point on, I began to dream about the future adventures that were now within my reach.