There's no place like home. That's what our good friend Dorothy Gale taught us.

That's true and all, but how do we classify home? Webster defines it as "the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household." And for the first 18 years of my life, I could agree with that. At that point I'd lived in the same area all of my life. It wasn't particularly my favorite area in the world, but it was home.

But what about as we get older, what happens then? Some people choose to remain in their hometowns, but many people go off to new areas for college or other opportunities. Even my first year of college, I considered where I grew up, where my family members all lived, to be home.

Then Sophomore year came and went. I didn't go home for the summer like everyone else, but I still thought of home as home. I was happier living in Clarion, but the house I grew up in was still "home." It wasn't until I returned this summer that I realized I was wrong; this place is no longer my home.

I knew that this town wasn't anything special, that's why I stayed away as much as I could. However, while I was away, I was able to hide from the fact that everything has changed.

Aside from my grandma, I was never terribly close to my family. I love my mom to death, but as for the rest of my family, forget it. I thought that was in the process of changing, but I discovered upon returning I was wrong.

Friends I once had all became busy, moved on with their own adult lives. That's okay. Change happens. It just sucks having to come back and get slapped in the face with reality; the fact that you truly have nothing left to keep you there, or even maintain the feeling of home.

Once I realized this, it made me start thinking about how relative of a concept home, and even family, can be.

Home is that one place you can't wait to come back to at the end of the day. For me, that's Clarion. I can't wait to go back next month and be back where I belong; In my 21 years on this planet, I've never felt more comfortable in any environment than I do in Clarion.

Family doesn't have to be blood. Family to me is whoever supports you, lifts you up, and makes your life brighter.

I've always appreciated the heck out of my friends.This appreciation grew even stronger once summer hit and separated me from them all, sending me to a place where I'm not sure I could feel less welcome.

We always call ourselves fam, and to me that's the best possible title. I've never had anyone in my life as supportive as they are. We always manage to push each other to do our best and better ourselves, all while having 2 a.m. nugg adventures. I am constantly overwhelmed by how amazing this group of humans is, and so incredibly thankful to have found them.

It may not be conventional, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, I'll always remember my roots, but my home is so much better than my upbringing environment.

If you begin to feel like your home isn't so homey anymore, it's okay. Things change, people change. Don't feel obligated to stay somewhere where your needs aren't met just because it's your "home". Get out there, find your own home, and do what's best for you.