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Student Life

Home Is Not a Place

Because Leaving for Break Doesn't Always Mean Going Home

Jordan Gamache

Jan 04, 2017

James Madison

Desktop Walls

Home is not a place. Home is not a set of coordinates you can plug into a GPS, or an address you can scrawl on an envelope or a brown paper package. Home is not three metal numbers screwed onto the side of a mailbox. Home is not what you answer when someone asks you “where are you from?”, and you struggle to explain that the state you live now is not really the place you consider yourself “from”. Home is not the house where your parents live. Home is not the state that is boldly printed on your car’s license plate. Home is not the warm little house you grew up in that you haven’t seen outside of your memories in nine long years. Home is not where you go when you leave your friends and your dorm and your campus and your new life behind when it’s time for break. Home is not a place.

Home is people. Home is the group of friends you can always go to when you have a terrible day and just need to laugh. Home is your best friend from high school who has remained just as close to you despite 500 miles of distance separating you from her. Home is your roommate throwing blankets at you at midnight wanting you to stay up with her for just one more hour. Home is two hundred sisters who welcomed you in with open arms on bid celebration night. Home is your family anxiously waiting to pick you up from the airport after three months of being apart. Home is your little cousin who looks up to you as her role model and closest friend. Home is being wrapped in the arms of someone you love as you watch a movie together under fuzzy blankets. Home is not a place.

Home is a feeling. Home is knowing you have friends and family who love you dearly. Home is waking up in the morning feeling happy with your life. Home is finally tasting your grandma’s cooking after eating from dining halls every day for months. Home is feeling beautiful, even with bedhead, sweatpants, and no makeup. Home is feeling your heart swell as you sing with the congregation in church. Home is hearing your extended family at Christmas dinner tell you how happy they are that you found your place. Home is feeling your cheeks flush and the butterflies dance in your stomach as the cute boy you’ve eyed for weeks asks you if you’d like to get dinner with him. Home is looking around as your closest friends laugh together, and feeling so thankful that God brought you to these people. Home is stepping outside onto your campus and realizing that everything finally fell into place, and that this is where you are truly meant to be. This is home. Home is not a place.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Home Is Not a Place

Because Leaving for Break Doesn't Always Mean Going Home

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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