"What's another night on Mars? With friends like ours, anywhere is home."

Thank you to the band The Maine for the inspiration to write this post. Oh, by the way, The Maine is a great band if you haven't heard of them. You should definitely pick up their latest album, American Candy. I recently saw them live too, it was a killer show.

Anyways, I have to thank them because I honestly did not know what to write about this week. Coming up with a topic week after week is more difficult than I thought. I know, I know, the struggle is real. As I was listening to my phone, the song with those lyrics came on and all of a sudden, a topic hit me. Funny how that works sometimes, isn't it?

In about two short weeks, I will return to Whitworth University for my final year as an undergraduate. I still cannot believe I am saying that. As I look back and reflect, I can only be grateful for the experiences I've had and the opportunities afforded to me at Whitworth. Last year, I chose to transfer to a completely new and foreign place, with zero familiarity. I had never even visited the place and sort of took a shot in the dark, but I'm glad I did. After spending the majority of my life living and going to school in Colorado Springs, I knew it was time for a change. But don't ask me why I chose Spokane, which is about the same size as Colorado Springs, because I still don't know. However, I love Spokane. And Whitworth. And the people. And the coffee shops. And the (wannabe) hipsters.

I have to admit that at first, Whitworth was strange. Hundreds of new students were just trying to fit in and find their places and despite being older than all of the freshmen, I felt that pressure. It was the first time I was away from family and the farthest I'd ever lived from them. Remember when Superman was a baby got shipped off to earth because Krypton was about to explode? (Or was it imploding? Ah, whatever). Yes, I did just compare myself to Superman although I promise I'm not trying to impress you or anything. As the title of this post suggests, however, I call Whitworth my home away from home. I have found my place there where I've met some of the most important people in my life; I reconnected with old friends, dove into campus events, projects and activities. On top of it all, I am getting an incredible education. These are all reasons why Whitworth has become my second home. Whitworth has been an essential part of my growth and independence, and I am thriving because of it. Colorado will always be where I'm from, my hometown, but home is so much more than that. It isn't necessarily a place; rather, it's the people that one chooses to surround themselves with.

I am so excited to go back in the coming weeks and I am looking forward to surrounding myself with more top-shelf people and good vibes, but mostly to continue making unforgettable memories with unforgettable friends. That sounds really cheesy and this entire post is sappy, so I'll stop before it's too far gone. I'll see you soon, Whitworth and friends!

One more thing:

"This one goes out to my friends; the one's who make me feel less alien." ~ The Maine, Another Night on Mars.