If you asked me a year ago if I was excited for college I’d practically jump up and down telling you yes!! As a senior in high school who spent more time tanning than actually attending school, I would have told you there is nothing I’m more excited for than to get out of Miami.
If you asked me 10 years ago if I was excited to one day go to college, I’d once again scream yes! Yes! Yes! As a young girl with daring dreams to move away and pursue theatre I always envisioned a life beyond Florida.
The point is, I’ve always known I wanted to get out.
Especially out of Miami.
As a little girl I quickly found myself sick of the only place I’d ever known to call home. I despised the heat, hated the disgusting humid air, and despite my middle name being Summer–I loathed being in a place where every day felt like it. As I got older, this feeling only seemed to grow alongside me. I was over the exhausting nightlife, where anything interesting seemed to only happen after 3 a.m., and feeling disconnected from any sort of real friendship for the past few years.
Senior year was just the breaking point. I became horribly uninterested in almost all of school and found any reason to stay far, far away from it.
The day I committed to Boulder was one of the best of the year, I was over the moon finally able to perfectly visualize what my life out of Miami would look like.
I saw the gorgeous mountain views on the way to class, the chill in the air that I almost never had, the new and exciting people I would meet, and all the memories I would make.
Now that that is my reality, I can attest it is truly everything I dreamed of. I’ve made many wonderful friends, experienced my first real change in seasons (or at least the start of it!), and soaked up every day in this gorgeous campus.
It was everything I dreamed of, and imagined. Except for one part.
I found myself missing Miami Beach.
A shocking, confusing feeling to have after years and years of excitement to leave.
This longing for Miami didn’t come from missing the things I of course knew I would–my family, friends, and of course, my adorable cat and dog.
Instead, it was Miami itself.
As much as I complained of the hot sand, and sunburns I couldn’t seem to stop getting no matter the amount of sunscreen applied–I missed the beach.
The quiet moments spent staring out at the water, watching the waves crash with my best friend, talking about life, or simply laying there and letting our thoughts wash past with the shore.
The excitement of treading through the sand at night, with only moonlight to guide my friends and I, or the laughter that came when splashing through the ocean, fighting off seaweed.
I missed the late night drives spent with my best friend Paloma, blasting our playlists down the highway.
The view coming over the bridge at night, where the houses and buildings lit up around you.
I missed the vibrancy and never-boring state Miami seems to run off of.
While I love Colorado dearly, and feel so grateful to have moved so far to pursue my dreams and dream life, there’s days where even just a short phone call to my parents, or listening to a few of my signature “Miami driving” songs can make all the difference.
When these feelings of homesickness feel too strong, I remind myself of the simplest fact–Miami isn’t going anywhere.
It will always be there, always be a reminder of home, and a place I can go back to visit.
To anyone reading this who feels the same, it’s okay to miss the place you once wanted to leave, it doesn’t undermine the way you feel about your new life, and it will always be there waiting for you.