I love my small hometown, and I am proud of where I come from. I have numerous memories on the town's softball fields, the ice cream place, and the high school parking lot. However, I am ready to move on. It is not that I dislike the streets or the empty fields; it is just that I know there is something else out there for me. What? I am not sure, yet I am confident this town shaped me to go find it.

Since leaving for college, I started to feel myself move away from my hometown little by little in subtleties when I came back for breaks.

1. Making new memories there seems harder than ever.

It seems like you have done literally everything there is to do within a 30-mile radius of your house.

2. When someone comes to visit, you have no clue what to show him or her.

I drive passed the Amazing Maize Maze in our town at least three times a day, so I forget that it is actually kind of cool.

3. The group of friends that have stuck beside you are the only ones you have in the town.

Odds are if something happened with a friend from high school, you did not feel the need to go out of the way to fix it. Some people are not meant to stay friends forever and, unfortunately, outgrowing a place sometimes includes the people there.

4. Breaks are considered "being away from school" instead of "being home."

Winter break seemed awfully exciting as freshmen, but winter break now is an entire month away from school.

5. Staying in with mom and dad is more appealing than going out with high school acquaintances.

Having a glass of wine with Mom or watching a baseball game with Dad is usually more exciting than going out with the junior year gym class hero.

6. Going to town events do not have the same effect as they used to.

Basketball games in high school were the thing to do on any given night. Now, it is more observing the group of girls that remind you of yourself rather than watching the game.

7. While at those town events, you have no problem hanging with the adults.

Because hanging with mom and dad is pretty appealing, you naturally end up sitting with their friends. The moms know all of the town gossip too.

8. It does not take much convincing to go visit a different town or city.

Whenever your friend from school asks you to go visit, you do not think twice about driving an hour or two to visit them. Besides, you enjoy seeing new towns and cities; it is refreshing.

9. Wanderlust is at an all-time high whenever you are home.

Ticket to anywhere, please.

10. Sitting at home with your dog, a cup of coffee, and a book sounds fantastic all the time.

It is warranted, too, given you work your ass off at school, right?

11. You would not trade your town for the world, but you feel confident moving on.