I grew up in a small, rural town in northern Michigan, but I chose to live and go to school in a bigger city. To my surprise, the longer I live in the city, the more I appreciate my hometown.

When I was applying to colleges I was adamant about going away to college. I didn’t want to stay in my same small town and I didn’t want to be stuck. The top two things to do there are: going to the movies, and walking around Wal-Mart; it isn’t a very exciting town.

Even though alternating between these two activities bored me to tears before, now I find myself missing them. A sense of nostalgia every now and then when I’m faced with too many options.

As I was driving back to school at the end of my fall break, I realized how badly I needed my short trip back home. As much as I love the opportunities available in the city, my college friends, and my independence, it’s nice to just go home once in a while. It’s great to see my cat, to watch scary movies with my sister, and as my other sister reminded me, to see the stars on a clear, dark night.

As much as I wanted to get away from “up north,” it’s amazing to now have a reason to go back and enjoy it. Sometimes you just need a break, some distance, to really appreciate what you’ve always had.

“City-living” is still new to me and sometimes I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. I’m used to bonfires, hunting, and long drives on back roads.

Even after two years of living on my own, I still miss having my family there in the next room. A phone call helps, but it just doesn’t have the same effect. In a place with so many more people, I still find it easy to feel lonely. Maybe my family is simply too close or maybe I’m just too sentimental, but I can’t shake the feeling that half of my heart remains at home.

I don’t regret going away to college, in fact, I believe more than ever that I made the right choice in leaving. Because in leaving, I can always come back. I’ve made the choice to have the best of both worlds: a quaint, beautiful, and open landscaped hometown, and also, a large community where I can express myself and experience new things.

Someday I will have to make a similar choice, when my schooling is done, about where to go, and while I don’t have a definite answer now, I know I won’t have to worry too much, because I have someplace to fall back on.

Having both of these environments in my life has made me think about what I want in my life, now, and in the future. Sometimes it’s necessary to compare them, and sometimes it’s necessary to be homesick, but afterward, it’s easier to understand what I want, and more importantly, what I need.

So, yes, I miss my hometown, and yes, I took it for granted. But, now I’ve grown and, I hope, I can now appreciate it as it is.