Living Away From Your Family | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Living Away From Your Family

Family time matters.

39
Living Away From Your Family
Unsplash

My name is Sean Landrock and I am currently attending college in the state of South Dakota. Northern State University is the school I attend. I am currently working on a double major in English and German. Also, I am working on a certificate in teaching English as a second language. This is the first time in almost two years that I have been home since I left for school. Since I left my home I have come across a multitude of things that have honestly kept me kind of bummed and just not happy. I have had to deal with a lot of situations where if family was in the area I would have been better off

In the State of South Dakota I am the black sheep. I do not hold common the ideas that the people of South Dakota hold true within their culture. This difference in ideology and culture has caused me a lot of problems, because in the state of South Dakota if you are not like them, or believe as they do, or even do as they do you are amongst the condemned. These differences have left me feeling like I cannot even express myself without being made out to be some type of bad guy, because I do not agree with their ideology. Not everyone within the state is this closed minded. There are those few, who are truly open minded people, but even these people have no desire to remain in the state I’ve noticed. I personally do not blame them for wanting to leave those who condemn them for just being themselves. It is because of these feelings I decided to finally go back home to my family. With me being around my family with all these feelings of alienation and confusion surrounding my experiences in South Dakota and, discussing these feelings with them along with just simply being around my peoples A.K.A…. My Family has made all the difference in the world.

This trip back to Indiana has reinforced and reminded me just how much my family means to me, and that no matter what I will never be judged or condemned for who I am. Also that family is the most important thing outside your-self in this world. Being around family is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself to remind yourself that you are not alone. I know how living away from your family can be a difficult task to manage. So my advice is that if you live in an area with no family and where you are in a position where you are not happy and feel isolated or alone within your environment: That a trip home may be the best thing for you, and to always remember one simple thing that there is and never will be any place like home.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
two women enjoying confetti

Summer: a time (usually) free from school work and a time to relax with your friends and family. Maybe you go on a vacation or maybe you work all summer, but the time off really does help. When you're in college you become super close with so many people it's hard to think that you won't see many of them for three months. But, then you get that text saying, "Hey, clear your schedule next weekend, I'm coming up" and you begin to flip out. Here are the emotions you go through as your best friend makes her trip to your house.

Keep Reading...Show less
Kourtney Kardashian

Winter break is over, we're all back at our respective colleges, and the first week of classes is underway. This is a little bit how that week tends to go.

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

Now it's time to get back into the REAL swing of things. Second semester is really here and we all have to deal with it.

panera bread

Whether you specialized in ringing people up or preparing the food, if you worked at Panera Bread it holds a special place in your heart. Here are some signs that you worked at Panera in high school.

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

Definitely the worst part about working at Panera was the uniform and having someone cute come in. Please don’t look at me in my hat.

Keep Reading...Show less
Drake
Hypetrak

1. Nails done hair done everything did / Oh you fancy huh

You're pretty much feeling yourself. New haircut, clothes, shoes, everything. New year, new you, right? You're ready for this semester to kick off.

Keep Reading...Show less
7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments