A little background about me: I am a 22-year-old college student who went to college at the school practically in my backyard. When I graduated high school, I very quickly made the decision to spend my first year of college living at home, which then turned into another year, and another. Here I am four years into college, and I’m still at home! Here are the top five reasons that I’m completely OK with that.

1. I don’t have to work

This may sound very spoiled, but I am not required to get a job. My parents would like for me to get a job and they encourage me to every chance they get, but they are not making me get a job. They both understand the importance of me getting good grades and keeping the scholarships I have, aka HOPE. I would love to get a part-time job. For around six months, about a year ago, I had a very wonderful job and it wasn’t too much to distract me from my school work. With my new major, it’s hard to find a job that works with the studio schedule I keep, but that's for another article.

2. My parents provide for me

Again, this may sound spoiled, but with me not having a job, I don’t have a lot of money that’s “mine.” I get a periodic refund check from the college, but after books and other school supplies are purchased, it dwindles quickly. My parents keep me fed, my car full of gas, and clothed. I could not thank them enough for what they have done in terms of providing for my needs (and some/most of my wants, too).

3. I grew up here

I didn’t and don't have to go through the “packing up my life” every semester. There will be a day in the future that I will, and I probably have more stuff to rummage through than I did four years ago, but that's OK! This house is the one I’ve always lived in. I could walk around it blindfolded. I didn’t go through the first sleepless night in a new house. I also don’t have to worry about leaving something in another city, it’s right at home!

4. I live in a great place

The place that I live is kinda in the middle of nowhere. I am surrounded by forests on all sides, and every kind of wildlife you could think of lives around me. I’ve seen coyotes, deer, snakes, and hawks from the comfort of my childhood home. Around two months ago was one of what I like to call our yearly visits from a bald eagle that lives around here. A lot of people only see those in zoos, on TV, or the occasional photo-op with Freedom (Hail Southern!). I am so blessed to get to do something as simple as drive to town and see them flying around.

5. I don’t have to miss my parents

The absolute greatest part about living at home is that I don’t have to miss my parents. A lot of my friends that aren’t from Statesboro, GA, or that don’t live with their parents always get really sad when they think about their parents back home. I don’t have to deal with that because I get to see them everyday. While, sometimes I don’t always see my dad before he goes to sleep for the night, I know he’s there and that I’ll more than likely see him the next day when I’m doing homework in the living room. I get to go back into my mom’s room any time I need advice, or just have something exciting about school to tell her. They’re not even a phone call away. They’re just in the next room.

I could not be more thankful to my parents for letting me stay here for this long at home.