As I loaded everything back into my old room, I looked around and I wanted to go back to college right away. I loved living on my own. The apartment gave me freedom, memories, and own space. I wasn’t ready to go back to my hometown. Then I looked at all of my trophies, pictures, and written messages on my wall, and it reminded me where I came from. It was a nice reminder who I was before I moved out. I have realized that I’ve changed so much just in the past few months. I went from the girl who loved being home every day to the girl who explored more freedom and challenges.
When I was in high school, people would tell us that we all won’t go far from Clinton County. Majority of my classmates and I wanted to get far away as possible. Looking back, I asked myself why were we ashamed of staying around our hometowns? There is a reason why people come back to good ole’ small towns. I have found that reason. It is a place where we grew up, made memories, faced many challenges, and the people you love at nearby. Its where we learned how to hike in the woods, rode our bicycles, sneak away from sheriffs when playing flash light tags, and many more. It made who we are today.
If you look outside of my bedroom window, all you will see in cornfield. In my mind, the cornfield was our childhood play place. The neighbor kids and I used to spend hours hiding in the field or we would pretend to go on a big mission to the woods. We played baseball and rode four-wheelers after it rains. Our moms would yell at us for dragging mud across the house but laugh with us on how muddy we get. The childhood memories are something we carry with us as we come home.
Not only memories and friendships are what makes home special. When I get closer to my hometown, I can name many people driving while I’m on the road. I know I am home when I see my cousin getting Wendy’s in the drive thru or my best friend driving down the road with duct tape on her car. Driving on backroads with the music blaring and windows down is something I can’t get when I’m away to college. There is nothing that can beat the beauty of my small town vibe. I would catch a smile on my face as I am driving down the beat up roads.
I began to ask myself, “why are you such in a rush to move away again?” I should be able to enjoy every moment I have at home before I leave my hometown again. I love being at college and live the independent life, but nothing beats seeing people I love the most every day and breathe the same air I used to breathe when I was a young girl. My home made me who I am today. I am finally home.
