The thing about home…

During college, home can become a tricky word. You leave what has always been your home to go to a new place that you will reside in nearly every second of the semester. Just because you live somewhere 24/7, does that make it home? Most would say, "absolutely not." So what is it about home? It's obviously more than just where you live. How do most college students end up finding home here? What makes home, home? In case you can't tell already, this is probably going to a somewhat sappy post, but I think it's important and it has been on my mind, so just bear with me.

For most residential college students, we've had a crystal clear idea of where home is before moving to college. You might even have two homes. For the most part, it has been associated with family, generally with the people or person who raised you. I don't know about y'all, but home is where I find that unexplainable comfort. Not saying that I always feel comfortable in my home in SC; sometimes it can be a war zone. Even still, I know it's home.

One of the first emotions that hits residential college students is homesickness. That first punch of homesickness is super weird. It's like you have been waiting for what seems like ever to get out of your house, your small town, etc. to see the big city and live your life to the fullest with this newly gained freedom. But it doesn't take long before you are wanting that same comfort you felt in your bed in your hometown or in your mother's cooking. You will get used to this change. You will find comfort in other things, maybe this new city or new friendships or maybe in things that remind you of home.

Before you know it, you will be visiting in your hometown and refer to Wagner as "home." At first it's weird (and your mother will more than likely freak out). You will begin to miss the things that make Wagner home when you are away from it. You get to spend  all of your time in a small area of space with your best friends and that's awesome. It's easy to miss that when you're away. Whether you find home here or you make it yourself, by the time you graduate, most have a home at Wagner. The wonderful people in Vocal Synergy and ResEd are a huge part of what makes Wagner home for me.

College is where I found out that someone can have many homes. Not only that, but you can be homesick for any number of these homes in any place or at any time. It could be that place where you studied abroad or had that internship or your childhood home where you can always cuddle with your puppy (even if the "puppy" is now 10 years old).  And it can definitely be Wagner.

I've been thinking about this topic because being a senior from South Carolina, I don't go to my hometown very frequently. Because I had a summer internship, it's been a while since I cuddled with my dogs or spent an extended period of time with my mama. A few weeks into the school year, I found myself homesick for SC. At first I thought, "I should be used to being away by now. I can wait til December" which was my next intended visit. But then I realized that there are no rules for what you call home and what you're homesick for. It can happen for any place/person at any time and IT'S OKAY. My mama assures me it will happen for the rest of my life.

I don't mean to be a downer. I know homesickness sucks, but we should be glad to have these homes that are so awesome that they make us homesick. And if the circumstances allow, make the trip. I am so thankful for all of my homes. I am also happy to inform you all that this weekend I am going to one of my favorites, to see my mama in South Carolina.