It was nerve-wracking, yet exciting leaving my small hometown in New Hampshire for a bustling city. Putting behind all I had ever known and saying goodbye to people I saw on a daily basis was hard, but I knew that attending college in Philadelphia was the best thing for me. I was ready for a new chapter of my life to start. Now that my freshman year at Drexel is almost over, I look forward to returning home to see what has changed or maybe even stayed the same since I’ve been gone.
1. My friends
It was tough to leave my best friends because they are my anchors, but I knew going away to college wasn’t the end of our seven-year long sisterhood. No one will ever compare to the girls who stuck by me when I cried over my middle school crush and had glasses and braces. I can’t wait to see what adventures this summer has in store for us
2. Saigon & Tokyo
This restaurant in my town serves the best pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) that I have ever tasted as well as Chinese and Japanese cuisine. After being disappointed by the meals at Drexel’s dining halls, I’m excited to get my hands on some food at Saigon.
3. Walmart
My family thinks I’m insane for missing Walmart, but I truly do. Drexel only has two 7-Eleven stores and the nearest place to purchase necessities is the CVS on Penn’s campus. With the nearest Walmart almost in New Jersey, I crave a store nearby with cheap prices and quick service.
4. The beach
New England beaches are absolutely breathtaking. Growing up 20 minutes from the shore, the beach was and still is one of my favorite places to go. Being in Philadelphia and not having direct access to the ocean makes me miss home even more, but I know that my heart will always belong to the beaches of my childhood.
5. My parents
I love my parents, but I wish we had a closer relationship when I was younger. Ever since I turned 18 and have been living life in a city on my own, I have grown closer to my parents. I’m starting to understand the challenges of adulthood and it’s easier to open up to them. I know they’re the reason I’m at Drexel today living my dream life and I will continue to make them extremely proud.
6. Being in a car
Getting used to SEPTA was hard for me, believe it or not. I was so used to driving everywhere or having my parents chauffeur me around that I was never exposed to subways or trains. I’m excited to get back in the car with my friends with the windows down blasting Taylor Swift’s 1989 album and enjoying summer.
7. Seeing people from high school
In high school, I didn’t belong to any particular clique. I was more of a floater who was friends with, or at least nice to everyone. I’m curious as to what my high school peers are doing now. You never know who has completely changed after high school.
8. Boston
Philadelphia has been wonderful and welcoming to me, but Boston has my heart. The atmosphere fits my style more – very preppy and put-together. I cherish each moment that I get in this city and it reminds me of how much I love New England.
9. My shower
Word of advice for incoming college freshmen: never, ever take your shower at home for granted. As grateful as I am to live in a dorm with private showers, I always miss my clean and comfortable shower where I can actually go barefoot. The water pressure is better, you have more control over the temperature settings and singing out loud is socially acceptable.
10. My bed
Another luxury never to take for granted – your own bed in your own room. I miss my fluffy, queen-sized bed all the time and although my bed at college suits me, I miss rolling around and sprawling out on my comforter, wrapping myself into a burrito with my blankets.
11. Showing off the “new me”
After spending nine months in Philadelphia at my dream school, I’ve transformed into the person that I want to be. In the city, I’ve now had my fair share of crazy nights and created unforgettable memories. I wear whatever I want to wear, stay up as late as I want and am in charge of myself. I love the independence that I now have. I’m proud of being exactly where I want to be, and I want people to know.
Being seven hours away from home definitely makes me appreciate the lifestyle I had before. I encounter times where, as much as I love the city, I want to escape and go back to the suburbs. The memories will come back when I pass my old high school, my favorite restaurant and drive by the mall I used to hang out at. But that’s not me anymore. I thank my hometown for giving me a humble upbringing, but I’m now in a new chapter of my life and I never want to go back to the past.