Like most teenagers, I insisted that when I left for college, I would be going somewhere far, far away from home. First, it was California. Then it was Oxford, England. When it was actually time to apply to schools, the farthest school I applied to was only two and a half hours from my hometown. In the end, I picked JMU because it is so close to my home. So whether you are a high-schooler trying to decide where you want to go to school or a college student trying to understand the appeal of living close to home, here are some perks I've discovered being a college student only 30 minutes from her hometown.

Firstly, most students, though they may feel like they are ready, will find living on their own shocking and terrifying. Even if you had freedom in your home, it's different when the only person making you go to class, eat lunch, do your homework, clean your clothes, etc. is you. It can seem overwhelming and lonely at times. If you aren't too far from home, there's comfort in knowing that you could hop in the car and be back home with your family in less than an hour.

There's also the fear of "What if I don't like my roommate?" or "What if I hate living in a dorm?" or "What if I am so overwhelmed I just need to get away for the weekend?" Living close to home means (a) you have a place to go if you are having roommate troubles or just need to get out of the dorm for a night or two, and (b) if your campus doesn't allow residents to have vehicles, you are close enough to home that a parent, friend, or family member can come to pick you up. There's not a feeling of being stranded in a new place alone.

Secondly, most colleges understand that students do not have and will not get a local doctor, so they have health care centers to take care of students basic needs. Unfortunately, on large campuses such as JMU, it can be difficult to get an appointment in a timely manner. Living close to home, you're able to see your local doctor and not have to go through the troublesome process of scheduling an appointment through your university.

Something else I really enjoy about living close to my hometown is that my family is able to enjoy events like football games, performances, and award ceremonies with me. I am also able to be home to celebrate birthdays and minor holidays.

Finally, this might sound crazy, but when you're a broke college kid and you're dying for a home-cooked meal, it's so nice to be able to go to your family's house for dinner. Not only is it delicious and not made in bulk from a box, its free! Another amazing thing about not being too far from home is that you are able to see your pets much more often because you can easily drive home/be picked up for a visit.

All-in-all, there are a lot of good, completely legitimate reasons to go to school close to home. So if you're a high school senior struggling to determine where you want to go or just a college student trying to understand the appeal of living close to home, remember that it isn't for everyone. But also remember that living close to home doesn't mean you are any less independent. It just means you have something comfortable to fall back on if you need it.