As I sit in my dorm, I reflect on the winter break. I remember being very excited to go home, to get to see some friends I had not seen in months, catch up on family time, and spend time with my dogs. However, after a few days into the break, I began to feel sad. I realized it was because I was homesick. I thought I was home, so how could I feel homesick? I wanted to go back to college. I considered university as home now, not the place I grew up. I know I am not the only one who felt this way. Many individuals I talked to felt similar, and our reasons were all similar: we missed our friends.
We have all heard the cliché "Home is where the heart is." In my case, my heart is with all the friends I have made in the short months I have been here. I find it amazing how in only a short time I have made friendships with people that I wouldn't trade for anything, where my friendships with my friend group in high school has all but dissolved. I still keep in touch with some friends in high school, but its not the same as it was back then.
In high school, I hypothesize that some people were only friends with others because it was convenient for them. Whether it was making friends with the person who you sat next to because they were at the top of the class, or they were in the same extracurriculars as you, many people were only friends because they spent lots of time with them or it could benefit them. They were not genuine friendships.
From my observations through the first semester, I find that being genuine is what makes the difference. I am not saying people weren't genuine in high school. I just find that people in college are trying to focus more on bettering themselves, and not about trying to fit into some group. I know that this is not the same for everyone, I am just sharing my observations.
All in all, I don't consider my hometown to be home anymore because of the quality of friendships that I have with people there. There are exceptions, but for the most part I just love my friendships here at college. Home will never be a physical location for me, it will always be where my friends are at.
