Last September, as I drove down to Los Angeles with my parents, hauling almost everything I owned with me, I never would have thought that seven months later I would be doing the same trip back home. This time however, instead of wearing my new UCLA hoodie, I would be wearing a face mask, gloves and having to change my clothes before I entered my front door. Moving back home was never a part of the larger “plan” that I had imagined for myself when I started college. That being said, over the past seven months, I am so grateful that I have been able to come home and receive much needed support during this time. I’ve learned that sometimes things don’t work out the way you had intended, and that’s okay.
Transitioning home to a household full of large animals, food portions and boys was a little bit of an adjustment, but my parents made it as seamless as it could be. They immediately respected my commitments to sorority meetings, homework, virtual club events, attending lectures and whatever else that was a part of my college routine. Additionally, by keeping open communication with them, it was easier for them to understand my time commitments and when I would be available for family time. By establishing this earlier on, this gave my parents a stronger grasp for how I was managing my time, which helped us create a calmer culture within the household.
Not only did they help create a solid study environment and place to participate in my clubs, but they have provided me with much needed advice and support that has helped me advance in my personal goals. This past year, I have greatly enjoyed writing, and I wanted to pursue more opportunities where I could practice this skill. My parents didn’t push me, but rather guided me to put myself more out there and take advantage of all the opportunities UCLA has. They were simply there when I needed them to be and knew when I needed them to take a step back.
If you find yourself living at home, create a study space for yourself, keep open communication with your parents and talk about your options and your goals for when you want to go back. Life does not wait for us to catch up. We must keep living and doing things that progress our lives no matter where we are located. Life does unexpectedly change, but it is up to us if we let it stop us from living. I could have done that last March, but my parents helped me keep on track and achieve more than I thought would be possible during a pandemic. In my case, moving back home wasn’t a step back, but a launch forward into my life.