I grew up in one of the busier towns on the island of Maui. You can't really call it a city because there's not much there. It's got, really, all you need: a government building, a courthouse, schools, a Foodland, a jail, and a neighborhood. The biggest thing that's happened in recent years was the opening of a Jamba Juice and Starbucks.

When growing up in Wailuku, Maui, I thought that my town and island had so much to do! I would plan these huge adventures with my friends to go explore the end of the road, or climb a fence and see what was on the other side. I appreciated my small town. I loved it. I still do. I will forever treasure the memories I made while growing up.

But as I grew up, I stopped seeing the wonder in my town. I stopped seeing the magic and the fun and the excitement. I wanted to do more than what my town, and even my island had to offer. I stopped appreciating my home. I stopped appreciating paradise.

In going away for college, I realized this: I lost sight of how truly beautiful my home is. I traded paradise for mountains and trees and rivers. I can no longer see the reflection of the sun as it sets on the ocean. I can no longer feel the sand between my toes as I walk on the beach. I can no longer climb a tree and be able to see the edge of my island. I miss my island. I miss my home. I always miss it.

The ironic part, though, is that even if I go home I am unable to appreciate the beauty and wonder of my island. I lose myself to boredom. Its as if I go home and become complacent again. Only in leaving my home, do I realize how much I miss it. How much I miss the warmth in the air. Is this similar for other people? Do any of you realize how much you miss home when you leave it, but then get to go home and forget why you missed it in the first place? It's a constant struggle between wanting to stay and wanting to go. What should I do? Is there any remedy?

It can be beyond difficult to move away from home. You miss the comfortable. Especially for first year college students, the transition is beyond difficult. And there is a way to get through it all! In making friends that share similar interests with you, in going out and exploring, in finding new hobbies, are we able to appreciate what we have and what we don't have.

You learn to appreciate home by doing new things, and exploring all of the possibilities your city has to offer.You realize that home still holds wonder and beauty if you want it to! So, go out and explore! Become a child again! And you'll return home, grateful for all of the experiences you had, and the ones you're going to make.

And I think that's how it is for most people. You leave what you know, only to realize how much you loved home in the first place. You learn to appreciate what you had, and never take it for granted again.