I have always called my “small town” in my Florida home, I had never lived anywhere else. Slowly and surely, my college town has become more like home than home really was. This poses the question: where is “home?"
In a physical location sense, home is in Florida. I have a family who owns a house in suburbia USA. I have a bedroom all to myself, I have a dog and a few cats. My car is parked in the driveway because I couldn’t take it up to college. I graduated from the high school down the road. I played soccer at all the fields within a 20-mile radius. But this doesn’t feel like home. This may be home, but I don’t feel at home.
I come home, and I hope that I run into no one I knew in high school. I keep my head down and try my best not to stray for too long at the local joints. I don’t want to be asked about my ex, or how college is, or any question regarding myself. I am uncomfortable with the small talk. Then back to my ex, he lives here still, his friends all go to school close to home, they all knew me as “his girl”. In this town I felt like nothing more. It is not home.
Westminster College and Pennsylvania is where I feel the safest to be who I am. I am a single person, there is no name attached to me at school. I am not "his girl" or the girl dating (insert name). I am me. I have developed into a person I am so proud of being. I am accepted for everything I am. Though this home doesn’t include my dog, or my own bedroom, I am able to feel like I belong. When I am home, besides being with my family, which is always a blessing, I am lonely. I am insecure and I typically get upset over everything “home” put my through.
I am so thankful for Westminster College. If it wasn't for WC, I don't know where I would be. This school has given me a place that I can call home and where I can feel the best about myself. Everyone there have been so amazing, through thick and thin people will stick around. My hometown never had that feel.
I outgrew my hometown, and that is perfectly okay. Once I accepted that home can have multiple definitions, I become more happy to be anywhere. I am proud of where I was raised, but I am so thankful that I got out. I would never have been the person I am if it wasn’t for college. I am happy I get to have multiple “homes”.
