Leaving home was easy for me; it meant freedom, independence, and a new beginning as I went to a school nine hours away. As much as I loved my family and still do, in my mind, staying home would have been holding me back… at least, that was what I thought at first. But now, two years in, I stay up at night imagining what life would have been like if I had stayed home. I would have been able to stay with my friends, and when I needed a shoulder to cry on, I would have had my family. There are lonely nights, but so many more happy days. Being away from home also helped me with my familial relationships. I was able to communicate long-held feelings and set healthy boundaries. I also stayed in contact with my long-time friends, whom I talked to almost daily. It was honestly a lot easier to keep in touch with friends than I thought. Of course, there were busy times when we may not have talked for a few days, but luckily, they were always there when I needed a place to turn back. All that being said, it wasn’t easy to fall into the crazy atmosphere that was college, being so far from home, but truly, I would not have had it any other way. Till next time… 🙂
