I will never forget the day that I moved into college and started a new chapter in the book called life. I was scared and anxious to meet my roommate, see the dorm I was going to be living in for the next year and succeeding in classes. After graduation, people would ask me if I was ready to move into school and I would always answer yes without hesitation. And to be honest, I never had doubts that I would miss my hometown.

As the first month went by, it started to sink in that this is my new home and I didn't live in the comfort of my parent's home anymore. I was on my own. I started to get homesick in September and went home for Labor Day weekend. As soon as I crossed over the mountain, I didn't have that feeling of peace to be home. Instead, I felt disconnected to my hometown. As I drove through town, I saw all of the kids that I went to high school with. Some were sitting at the hardware, the most popular hangout spot, some were pulling out of school, standing in the school parking lot, talking to friends and being carefree. I began to feel saddened by how much I missed this place. That was me less than four months ago. Then I went to my house and went up to my room and it felt odd to be back in my childhood room with all of my pictures, wall art and clothes missing. Instead of feeling like I was at home, I felt like a guest.

Truth be told, I felt more at home when I went back to college than I did in the place I grew up. Going home is always a challenge because I want to feel what I felt prior to moving away, but I know that everyone must eventually grow up and move on and I think I have accomplished just that in the three months I have been at college. This does not take away from the fact that I miss my family, friends and former teachers.

Hiawassee will always be where my heart is, but moving away was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.