Last spring, I faced the reality of graduating college and I endured the ever dreaded question "After college, what are you planning on doing?" My senior year of college, I experienced a lot of heartache at school. I learned that certain individuals weren't good for me and I just wrote my senior year at Wheelock off as being an experience that I couldn't wait to be over. While my first semester was awful, I became closer with one of my dearest friends second semester- she as well as my other close friend taught me that I am beyond the false words said about me. But beyond that, they reminded me of how much I love Boston. When applying to graduate school, I told my parents that I did NOT want to stay here and that I needed a change of scenery. I applied to numerous out of state schools, and I was "ready" to leave.

I applied to Boston College on a whim - almost as a joke to a real reach school. I had written BC off as a "no way will I be accepted into this school", so I paid my deposit to the University Of Vermont. Then, a pesky little email came from BC, congratulating me on my acceptance to the Boston College School Of Social Work - which was also the best email that I have ever received in my entire life. When I got the email, I was sitting in the car with my former supervisor when I literally said "HOLY SH*T, I just got into BC." I said to my brother that I was confused as to which school I should go to, but, my dear brother Adam said the most simple statement that made my decision for me; he said "Caroline, you don't turn down a BC acceptance." I can't recall if I ever told my brother that his one lined text was a game changer for me; but perhaps I should. That day, I told UVM that I would respectfully decline their offer. I can remember calling my friend Brittany to tell her my news, and her response reaffirmed my love for home. She said, "Caroline, I love you and I obviously support you, but I am so selfishly happy that I can hop on the T and see you every weekend." And while grad school can be a painfully lonely time, I thank my lucky stars that BC granted me the opportunity to stay home. I wake up every morning and I honestly thank God that I can live only blocks away from my closest friends-who, no matter what, back me and support me during this graduate school adventure. I've studied and interned abroad, but my God, have I also learned to love home.

I love you, Boston.