Home: a familiar or usual setting, one's place of residence or a place of origin. Yes, this is the definition of home, but to me, the meaning of home goes beyond this.

Before I began my freshman year of college, all I could think about was how happy I was to finally leave the place where I lived all my life. The same people, familiar restaurants and monotonous activities made the anticipation to finally flee all the more exciting. I thought that as soon as I arrived in Madison, Wisconsin, I would never look back.

To my surprise, this was not the case. After weeks of distracting myself by making incredible new friends, trying the delicious cuisine on State Street and becoming part of a sorority, reality set in—I missed home.

Following this epiphany, I started to wonder, what is it about home that makes it so special? Is it your favorite deli that you get the same sandwich from week after week yet never get sick of? Perhaps it's your favorite exercise class that you're addicted to. Maybe it's knowing your parents are around in case you need anything.

Of course, change is a necessary and important occurrence in life. Despite this, the familiarity of something is equally as important. Being surrounded by the same atmosphere has helped define who I am. Where I spent the first 18 years of my life has enabled me to start out on my college journey in a healthy and successful way. It took me being thousands of miles from home to truly appreciate this fact.