As the end of winter break rapidly approached, I began to feel a hint of nervousness I never anticipated to feel. For a moment, I realized that I was worried about going back to school and leaving the comfortable bubble of my suburban home. Immediately, I did not understand where this was coming from, and I was fairly shocked. I had such an amazing first semester, so why was I not ecstatic to go back to a place with such beautiful memories?
The final day of winter break had arrived just as quickly as break had begun; I said my goodbyes to my family and friends as I was anticipating a hectic semester ahead. Leaving home for the second time around left me with a bittersweet feeling in my throat, it almost felt more permanent, and I felt like I would be more disconnected from home.
About two days after arriving on campus, I realized my initial apprehensions about coming back to school were completely crazy. I have never felt the same ease I have when I walk across the snow-covered Oval or when I enter the impressive Ohio Union. It feels like home, a place where I belong more than anywhere else at this point in my life.
School for me has not only represented academic growth and the expansion of my thought process, but it represents individual growth. In the first four months that I was here, I noticed myself becoming a version of myself that I absolutely loved. I am thoughtful with my words, purposeful with my actions, and I have found like-minded people that encourage me to be whoever I want to be.
Being back at school only reminds me of why I chose to come here. I am surrounded by brilliant students from all over the world, all here with the same goal to expand their mind and their horizons. I walk into the student union with a sense of comfort that students really do care about each other. As I wander past the snow-covered grass on North campus, I am reminded of all of the positive experiences from the first semester.
It is not only the familiarity of the environment that makes it comfortable. For me, it is so much more. When I first moved in, everything was absolutely foreign to me..the people, the campus, the activities, everything. I realize that the reason Ohio State has become a second home for me is not that I can find my way around without Google Maps, or that I can recognize a few familiar faces on campus, it has become much more for me.
The comfort of home comes because I immersed myself in this environment. I joined several organizations which I love, choose to be friends with people I admire, and challenge myself to be as involved as I can.
And throughout all of this, I realized the essence of coming back to a place you love. It is no longer just a place you like being in, but rather, it is a home, a place you learn to love.