Many times, I see articles regarding homesickness from college, and what it’s like to go home for the holidays for the first time, but not as often those directed at students who stayed in their hometown. There are many positives and negatives when it comes to going to college, whether it is in your hometown, or elsewhere. Here are a few things I want to share about what it is like to go to college in your hometown:

1. Hearing people ask, “But why did you stay?” There are so many factors that go into deciding where to go to college such as: programs, amount of students, quality of professors, cleanliness, and so much more. Whenever I am asked why I stayed, I simply ask them, “Well why did you leave?”
2. You still see a lot of people you went to high school with around town.
   I see so many people I went to high school with, that I recognize. It’s not that I was ever close with many of the people, but it’s hard to not notice, especially in a small town. I see the other students from my graduating class that decided to stay at home to go to college in town, and then I see the students who chose not to attend a university.
3. Your class intros feel boring.
   There’s nothing quite like the look you get when you say your hometown is the town everyone is currently in. You are then followed by the question of, “but why did you stay?”
4. It is hard to classify yourself in the town now.
   I identify a lot with the college students in my town, but also with the townies that left. While I enjoy the time when the college students leave, and our town quiets down, I equally enjoy when all of the people I went to high school with, leave again for their respective universities.
5. Going, “home for the holidays,” isn’t as exciting as it is for most college students.
   When I see my family for the holidays, it’s the same as seeing them on the weekend, or at other family functions.
6. It’s sad when your college friends go home for break.
   It is really nice to see my friends who go to school out of town, but it is also hard to see college friends go to their own homes over break. It is a very bittersweet time when this happens.
7. You know so many more people.
   It may be a cliché to say, but sometimes it really is about whom you know. The more people you know, the better chances you have of knowing somebody to help you. I know I have personally benefitted from having people on campus that know my family.
8. You have an immediate sense of community.
   When going to college out of town, this is something you have to build. College is a stressful time, and it can be really nice to go somewhere that you already feel comfortable in, and where you also already have a support system.
9. Getting a job is a lot easier.
   When you aren't bouncing between college and home, it is easier to maintain a job. Also, many employers prefer someone who will work over breaks. There is also the possibility of continuing with a job you had in high school.
10. The FOMO is real. Yes, I know in the long run, I am saving a lot of money by staying at home, rather than the dorms my first few years, but you can't help but feel like you missed out on something. I loved having the convenience living at home, but hearing about everyone's awful freshmen roommate makes me almost wish I had an experience like that.

There are a lot of pros and cons that come with going to school in your hometown, and honestly anywhere. Going to college is about gaining experiences and knowledge, and I know I got that regardless of how far away my mom and sister were. My college experience is something I wouldn't trade for anything, and I hope everyone feels that way.