I grew up in a small town in west Georgia, where no one had really heard of us if they lived outside a 15 mile radius. I spent 18 years of my life with the same people, on the same streets, doing the same things day in and day out. It may sound horribly boring to some, but I loved every minute of it. It was a routine, and I always love my routines. Needless to say, I was dreading the idea of leaving for college. Now, don't get me wrong, I was very excited about the idea of college, but a large part of me was not looking forward to driving away from the only town, and the only life, I'd ever known.

Fast forward to the first week on campus. You constantly hear new freshmen excitedly telling their social media about their "new home" as soon as they receive that acceptance letter, and even more once they arrive on campus. As amazing as your new college town can be, I just don't think it could ever replace the place you spent the last eighteen years growing up. Choosing to go to UGA was a dream of mine since age 8. However, 8-year-old me never considered the ridiculous amounts of loneliness I would feel as I struggled through the first year of college. I made a few close friends, but still felt out of place. Everything was new and strange and I absolutely hated it. After growing up knowing every backroad and shortcut for miles, I hated that I had to use Google Maps every time I went to Walmart for the entire first semester. It baffled me that Athens even had multiple Walmarts. I contemplated transferring to the community college closer to home, but I knew that UGA was dream school; I knew I had to find a way to make it work.

This is my second year at UGA and things have changed, a lot. I have an apartment off campus with the sweetest roommate and the cutest cat you've ever seen. I know where pretty much every building on campus is, without looking at a map. I know the bus routes. I even know how to get to Walmart without using a GPS. The change in my life was simple. I accepted that while I live in Athens, and love everything about Athens, this period of my life is temporary. I see no reason to make Athens my home when it is only a small time of my life in comparison to the rest. Life in college is great; you're halfway between an adult and a kid. You have responsibilities and can live on your own, but you still have somewhat of a childlike innocence, I mean what college kid isn't excited about Disney Plus right now? So for those who are like me, those who feel out of place in their college town and miss home way more than you ever expected: it gets better, it gets easier, and its okay if this temporary place doesn't hold the highest place in your heart. Don't let the excited Instagram posts tell you that 4 years in a new place has to replace the home you spent the last 18 in.