My decision to move home after the Fall 2019 semester isn't one I made on a whim. Contrary to what most people think, this also wasn't an easy decision for me to make. Lots of tears and stress have gone into this decision as well as changed minds and lots of understanding.

My decision to move home to go to community college the Spring of my Sophomore year of college has been an important and scary decision for me to make. It has been supported from my family, and it's been a difficult process in deciding whether I wanted to go to community college or tough-it-out 500 miles away from home. It has been a decision based on what is best for me and my mental health as well as my family members.

Leaving University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), a place I've grown to love very quickly in the last year is not what I would have imagined I'd be doing when I started this journey. Leaving my amazing friends (that turned into family) I have grown to love isn't what I would've imagined, and I most definitely never guessed I would be leaving this unforgettable place of paradise.
But I do not feel as if I have failed by choosing to leave USCB. I've been taking care of myself for a while now. I've maintained a great GPA, learned to live on my own, and experienced more growing up than I probably ever would living at home. Living on my own has taught me responsibility and limitations. Creating a "home away from home" was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I work hard to better myself every single day, and that won't change when I go home.

My decision to leave USCB is a decision built completely on my need for balance and family. I have spent over a year away from home and I cannot put into words how much I needed that at the time of my move. Until the recent months, I have developed a strong sense of urgency to spend time with family members and find balance in my physical/mental health and faith. My appreciation for my family and my hometown has grown tremendously. I know that I would not appreciate their love and generosity to this extent if I hadn't made this far of a move. I am so thankful for my experience living in the South. This wasn't any easy decision to make, but the peace it has brought to my heart speaks volume. I am so proud of myself and what I have accomplished. While I am unsure where this chapter in my life will take me, I know that each page will bring a new adventure.