Last year, I was moving into Saint Vincent to College. However, before I did that, I moved into Eastern Kentucky University which was seven hours from my home in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. My parents drove all of my stuff down for move-in day and my brother and I followed. Once we got down there we checked into a hotel, and went to my favorite restaurant, Cheesecake Factory for the "last meal as a family" for a couple months. None of us could really eat, except for my little brother. I was nervous as hell to start my new life down here. I knew nobody (except for my roommate whom I had only ever exchanged text messages with). Nonetheless, I was excited. The next morning we drove the five minutes from the hotel to campus and the truck was unloaded and I move into my room on the eighth floor. We left my car at the hotel and decided we could go back and get it once my parents were ready to trek back to PA.
Once that time came, we headed back to the hotel. We all got out of the truck and none of us seemed ready to say goodbye. I first hugged my brother, because I knew that would be the least painful, but hurt nonetheless. He faked some tears and I shoved him away with a chuckle. Next was my dad, my guy. I hugged him and he squeezed me as I heard him take a deep breath to try and hold the tears back. "Be good", he whispered. "I'm so proud of you. I love you and remember that you can come home anytime." Tears streamed down both of our faces and after he released his grip I knew the hardest one was coming... Mom. She was already crying after seeing Dad and I's goodbye. I couldn't blame her because I was too. We put our arms around each other and both began sobbing. I can't tell you what was said, I can just tell you it was painful, and the fact that it was even more painful for her, made it harder for me.
As I drove back to the EKU campus alone, I realized I was on my own. Kentucky is my new state, the 15 by 17 room that I just moved into was my new home. I went back to the eighth floor to finish unpacking before my floor meeting. I met a ton of new faces that weekend, but felt so out of place. I didn't belong. This was not where I was supposed to be and I fully believed that. I called mom who of course told me to come home. I made the seven-hour trip and left my belongings in my room. When I got home my parents and I made the decision that I would attend Saint Vincent College.
I drove fourteen more hours by myself. One way to get back down to Kentucky and load up my car, and another way back home. How I fit everything in my ford fusion after taking everything in my dad's ford f150 is beyond me. The best answer I have for you is determination.
Once I got moved into SVC, I felt at home. I knew this is where I belonged and I was a part of. Sometimes you have to make mistakes to learn the lesson. And this was definitely a life lesson for me. I am beyond blessed to have the most understanding parents a girl could ask for and they have been the biggest and best supporters ever. Although I am so excited to move back into Saint Vincent today, I will without a doubt shed some tears when it comes to saying goodbye to the best people in my life. Luckily, I am only twenty minutes away from them instead of seven hours
