It’s summertime and for a lot of college students, they are going home for the break. They will be able to see old friend and live rent-free in a room their parents may or may not have converted into a home gym/guest room for the next few months.
But that's not the case for me. There are specific reasons why I don't go home for break, from the boring small town, my responsibilities in Orlando, to the millions of other things that are keeping me from coming home. I can name all the reason why I'd much rather stay in a large city than go back home, but. this short article will soon turn into a long and exhaustive list if I do. So I'll just boil down my reasons to the top three.
1. I like my independence
I like being able to go out when I want and be back when I want. I like to go places without telling anyone or letting them know exactly when I will be back. Being able to do your own thing and taking care of yourself away from your parents becomes a huge part of your life.
When I go back home I feel like I'm back in high school; having to abide to the same rules as a sixteen-year-old and not being able to skip out on chores before leaving the house. I would much rather tell myself to do something than have my parents do it for me.
2. Work/School
One of the most-common excuses for not going home is definitely having to stay in town for work or summer classes. If you are from a small town like me, then you would know exactly how hard it could be to find work in the summertime. By the time you actually get home, there is literally nothing left.
Also, the summer is a great time to get internships. You won't have school to worry about, and if you do you would probably only be taking one or two classes anyways. You might as well take an internship and start building up your resumé while you're at it. Summer classes are a lot easier than fall and spring classes. The lectures are shorter and the assignments are a breeze.
3. No one else goes home, so why should I?
Another reason why I don't go home is because I grew up in a town where no one ever wants to go back, at least not for months at a time. Every one of my high school friends are either studying abroad, deployed overseas, going on road trips, or doing the same thing I'm doing this summer; working and going to school. As much as I love my family, I think I would go absolutely insane from boredom if I had to stay home for the summer with no one to hang out with and probably no job to fill up my time.
I like going home, but for some reason, in this stage of my life, I can't spend more than a few days at a time. I'm often plagued by the life and responsibilities I have back in Orlando. I have a job, school, and other people waiting for me to go back. I am starting to build my own life outside of the home I've known for so long. I've made a life there, and my 'home' is now a vacation I take to escape the trying times of that life.