Leaving home for college was a big choice, one that I struggled with up until the very last second of the deadline. Thinking I wanted to get away from my hometown, my parents and everything familiar, I applied to as many out-of-state schools as I could, only applying to a few in-state ones as well.
When it came time to make a decision, I wasn't so sure I wanted to leave California, much less leave Southern California at all. Realizing this, I looked into my options within California, hoping that I could find the right fit. Unexpectedly, I decided to take a tour of a school that was just 19 miles away from my house— and fell in love.
Luckily for me, I found my fit in sunny Southern California, and these perks that have come with living close to home are ones that I, admittedly, could not have survived my first year of college without.
1. You're already adjusted to the area
There is no re-adjustment needed when going to a college close to home; you already know where all the best malls, grocery stores and restaurants are. Learning your way around an unfamiliar area can also be a bit awkward, but having grown up in the area you already know every route possible to get to Chik-fil-A with the least amount of traffic.
2. Missing your pets is a great (if not the best) excuse to go home
Let's face it: our pets are usually the ones we feel most attached to. No one else can make us happy just by lying at the foot of the bed. And that overwhelming feeling you get when they come to you without having to be coerced? Yeah, that's love. Living just a short drive away from home gives you the opportunity to see your lovable four-legged friends just about whenever you want (or every weekend).
3. You can see your friends whenever they're in town
Living just miles from home gives you an opportunity others may not have, which is being able to see friends from home more easily. Breaks not matching up is never a problem for you guys, and you can easily drive home for the weekend or have them drive up to visit you.
4. Going home during the shorter breaks is easier (and much cheaper)
Booking a flight home for that short spring break can often be pricey, but you can drive home in just a short commute. You won't ever have the problem of planning out where to go or who to stay with (unless you want to) during these breaks because you'll always have your home just a few miles away.
5. Seeing family
While others do not have the option of seeing Mom and Dad on a regular basis, you do. If your family members find themselves missing you, a trip up isn't going to be some big hassle. It can be a quick lunch or even just running errands; there's no pressure to make the trip memorable because, odds are, you'll see them in a few days anyways.
6. Free things!
While some wanted to get away from their parents, mine have continued to provide me with food, laundry and more. Quickly getting tired of the dorm food, I took a quick Sunday-night trip home, where I was greeted with my favorite dinner. But a free dinner is not the only perk of spending a quick night at home; there are a lot of amenities that can be taken care of as well. Laundry can be done and Mom can buy much needed groceries, among other things.
There are disadvantages to everything, but for me, the advantages of being close to home far outweigh the bad. College is a place for growth, and living close to home or not, it will happen regardless. Being just a short drive away allows me to choose when and if I would like to go home, and offers the reassurance that my parents, good food and my animals will always be waiting for me if I need it.
