Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to go to college in Massachusetts. Everything about the state interested me: Boston being so close, being away away from my home state, and the endless opportunities for jobs and internships. In my eyes, Massachusetts was the whole package deal.

Near the end of my senior year of high school I was itching to leave for college; I knew where I was going to school, AP testing was over with, and to be quite frank, I just wanted to be the hell out of Maine. I felt that I had outgrown my hometown, Lewiston, and the people in it.

As wonderful as this summer was, it came to an end. As the summer days were winding down, I was having second thoughts about leaving Maine. This past summer showed me how simple life was for me, and I was not quite ready to give that lifestyle up yet. The thought of living over 100 miles away from my friends and family made me heartbroken.

As move-in day for college came, I was really having second thoughts. I just wanted summer to start over, and I wanted to relive all of my memories I had made two months ago.

As my parents were loading up the car, reality hit me: I was leaving my family, my city, my friends, and my life.

During the time of my arrival at Merrimack College, there were so many emotions flowing through my mind. I was excited to start my new academic journey, I was sad to leave my old life behind, and I was nervous about my unknown future.

After a few weeks of being at my new home, I felt comfortable, I felt settled, and I felt happy.

As I am writing this article, I am in my second month at being at my school, and it's safe to say that I love it here at Merrimack College. The warm community that I live in, the friends and memories that I have made, and the education I am receiving is what makes me feel at home.

Although Merrimack is where I live, it is not my home. Yes, I technically do live in here in Mass., but I do not consider Massachusetts my home, a place where I can go to escape my hardships, a place to gather with my friends and family, a place where my worries go away. There is a difference between your college home and your home-town home. The college home is a place where you have to live, unless you commute. This is a place where you have no choice but to make the environment you live in your home. Your abode back where you live for three months out of the year is your real home. This is the place where the coffee tastes like God blessed it, and the scrambled eggs your mom makes actually taste like real eggs.

The shopping trips and the L.L. Bean Boot picture in Freeport, the colossal lobster rolls from Captain Jack’s in Naples, the trips to Wallingford’s Orchard to get apple cider donuts, and my favorite, Forage Market, on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. These are a few components of Maine that make me cherish my home state.

Take a trip to Acadia, go spend a ridiculous amount of money at a five star restaurant in Portland, and most importantly, spend quality time with your family in the great state of Maine. This state is all about community, family and friends, and the quality of life, and now that I live in Massachusetts, I miss everything about my home state.

So for all you Mainers out there, do not take the good ol’ Pine Tree State for granted. Appreciate the four seasons it gives you, even if you loathe the winter season, go eat a red hot dog, and take time to reflect on yourself, your family, and the one-of-a-kind state of Maine.