As a first-year student at Boston University, I’ve been eagerly anticipating a return home and a visit to my family. I live relatively close to school, so I was able to come home for a few days this Thanksgiving break. I returned late Tuesday evening after my classes, feeling ready to leave campus behind and spend time with friends and family.
At home, I spent most of my time with my siblings. My sister, who attends a nearby college, was also able to come home for her break. My brother is in high school and lives at home, so I got to see all my siblings. My sister brought one of her friends with her, and I found it very nice to have someone new visiting.
Without my siblings or guests, I think I’d feel a bit lonely, especially after being in a city as busy as Boston. At BU, it seems as though there is always someone awake. At 1 a.m., when I walk back from the library, people are often afoot nearby, and cars are driving down Commonwealth Avenue.
At 6 a.m., before I go to bed after a long day of work, I look out my dorm window and see cars stopped at a red light. In Boston, there is always movement and light. But when I came home, everyone in my family was in bed before me.
There was no one awake around me, no conversations or activity. It was strange to walk outside of my room and see all the lights off and bedroom doors closed. In high school, I was often the last person to go to bed so the feeling of being awake and alone is familiar, though it was quite strange to experience again.
I have become accustomed to the noise and brightness of the city, so it almost felt eerie to go outside after dark in my hometown. On my first night, my brother and I went to Wendy’s around 9 p.m. As we drove down the road of our town of about 25,000 people, I noticed how scary it felt.
I knew going into college that being in a city and around people gave me a sense of comfort. Returning home made me realize just how true that was. Being in Boston fills me with ease — knowing that people are awake, seeing cars driving on the interstate at any hour, hearing the bells of the T — it all fills me with a sense of security. It lets me know that I am never alone. When I came home, it felt a bit frightening to see dark and empty streets, to be the only car on the road surrounded by night.
Lastly, when I came home, I started to fall back into the same habits as before I left. In high school, I was very interested in poetry. I did not write it all the time, but when I felt inspired, I would spend time writing it for fun.
Ever since I have been in college, I have not felt compelled to write anything. But at home, I’ve been drawn to write again. I don’t know why this happened, or if it is just because I’ve had more time, but my desire to create more poems has increased since coming back.
At the end of the day, my visit home was exciting and relaxing, and I enjoyed the whole trip. It left me thankful for both my home and for Boston University.
It gave me time to catch up with family and friends and left me enthusiastic about returning to campus.
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