July 2015 is when I attended orientation at what was then Georgia Regents University. We were all given t-shirts that had a place on the back where we were to write one word in the blank on what/why we chose the school. I saw everyone around me writing words such as "excellence", "opportunity", and "creativity" but I could not think of anything. And then, it hit me "I Chose: Home".

Augusta University was not the first college I applied to, Georgia Southern was. I liked the idea of "going off" for college. It would be the first time I would be away from home for more than a week, it meant that I would have the cute, cliche decor of a college freshman, but it would also mean that I would be away from home for more than a week. I mulled over the situation and if I would be okay with being gone for three or four months. I figured that the first month or so would be fun but I felt like after that first month, I would hate it. I would hate being away from my parents and friends, not having home cooked meals, being in my own bed. Point is i would have been miserable so I Chose Home.

I am a 'homegirl.'I love living in my little town of Cadley and not in some big city like Statesboro. I like beimg able to see my people when I want and I love/hate the fact that I only have to drive 40 minutes from college to home (instead of two hours). Though I did get 'advice' on why I needed to go off to college and spread my wings, I am glad that I Chose Home.