I have been in college, at JSU, for almost two years now. When I first got here, I barely knew a soul. I didn't have any close friends here from high school, so all of my friends here are people I met after graduation.
Because I live in the Birmingham area, I've had quite a few people ask me why I didn't just go to UAB. And that question is a good one. I have plenty of friends here who are from Gadsden or Oxford and have most of their high school friends here with them. If I'd gone to UAB, I wouldn't have had to leave my hometown or the friends I had there, and I wouldn't have to change much about my life.
But the thing is, I needed change. I didn't want to stay in my hometown for another minute; I felt that I'd been there way too long. I needed to get out and find myself. I know that sounds like such a cliche, but it's the honest truth. I didn't want to walk into class and see everyone I knew back in high school. I didn't want to keep working at the local Piggly Wiggly. I wanted to experience new things, live in a new city, and meet new people, and I'm excited to say I've done all of these since moving to Jacksonville.
That's not to say that I'm judging anyone who stayed close to home. I completely understand why someone would want to stay with their friends. If you're happy, you're happy. It just wasn't for me because I never really belonged in my hometown and had no desire to stay for another four years.
Yes, sometimes I miss my family and some of my old high school friends, but I never would have grown into the person I am today if I hadn't gone away to college. It was time for me to go, and I'm glad I did when I did.
