When deciding on a college I was really stuck between two. One was four hours away and one was only 30 minutes from my house.

I decided to stay close and I'm so glad I did. The second day of college I realized I left some stuff at home, quickly texted my mom, and had everything the next day. I can meet my family and friends for lunch easily, and my homesickness hardly exists.

I was already familiar with the area I was about to be living in, which is comforting in some ways. I know my favorite shops near me and the best places to eat. When people who moved from hundreds of miles away ask for recommendations, I'm on it.

While I did end up knowing a few people from my high school that came to the same college, I have met so many new and interesting people. One of the best choices I made was going random with my seven suitemates. I have a whole new group of friends from all around the country. So yes, I'm staying in an area I know but I'm meeting new people every day and learning new things.

One of the major perks of living close to home is that I can still see my old friends easily. When FaceTime just isn't enough, I can meet them at one of the amazing restaurants around me. I can do the same with my family that I've begun to miss while I'm at college.

Even though I'm close to home, I have such a different life and have had so many new experiences. Sometimes it gets easy to forget that home is just a little way down the road. College is an amazing experience and it's even better to still be able to be close to people I love and places I love.