The moment “home” is geographically located on your campus is an enlightening moment. You feel a sense of guilt and desperation to remain loyal to your original home—the place you matured and lived for years and years. But, you feel an abyss forming.
It doesn’t happen overnight—this moment of true epiphany. In fact, it happens out of the blue. You will be discussing plans with your “back home” friend group and you will respond “Oh, I can’t do that. I will be returning home.”
And your world will stop for a second.
Simultaneously, your heart will be in two separate locations on earth. One address is homey, secure, and reliable. The second full of new memories, mystery, and strange faces waiting to be learned. But, which one presents the most desired situation?
When driving back to campus from your childhood home is exciting and enjoyable instead of tiring and anxiety-inducing, you have grown. You are growing independent from your parents and unattached to your high school friend groups. Campus life gives you the freedom to plan your own schedule or eat a new palate. It grants students the ability to slowly start shaping their lives to their unique outlooks, but with the added benefit of parental advice and influence only a phone call away.
College is a cross roads to a new life. The comforts of home help guide you along initially, but begin to feel like inhibitors to your new routine. Going home is a bittersweet feeling mixed with family, friends, and pets, but also household rules, parental control, and separation from school friends. You become split between two worlds of varying amenities and eventually your desire for one overpowers the other.
Remember that it’s okay to be torn between home and, well, your other home because each place offers its advantages and disadvantages. Exploit each for its good attributes and use that knowledge to accentuate your cross roads experience.
