Let us rewind to the beginning of the school year. As the first child of all my siblings to enroll at a division one university to pursue an undergraduate degree, I was not quite sure what to expect about this whole “college thing.” Will making new friends be a simple process? Will the courses held at the university be challenging? Will the campus and the city be difficult to navigate? These questions, only a few among the many, were all jumbled up in my mind. With these curiosities scattered across my brain, I was just so unbelievably eager to see what this new endeavor would hold for me. I was ready.

Moving into my residence hall and adjusting to the new lifestyle was not easy at first. Having to manage my time wisely had not been difficult for me in the past. In college, however, it is very tedious because as a new student you want to take advantage of every new opportunity that is offered to you.

I had the desire to get the full freshman year experience.

Whether it was attending sporting events, joining new student organizations, or exploring all of the events held on campus and in the city, I was thrilled that every day led to a series of new adventures. It is important to remember that in the midst of all the fun college can bring, the sole reason we choose to pursue our undergraduate studies is to further our education. Studying hours on end everyday just to get a decent grade in a course definitely required a lot of effort and intense work ethic, especially during finals week. All I needed to do was remind myself that in the end, it would all be worth it once I graduate with a degree.

As the year progressed, little by little, I began to fall madly in love with my school, The University of Wisconsin-Madison. My new home away from home made me feel more comfortable than ever, and I just knew that this is where I was meant to be.

By the end of the school year I was ready to go home because I just wanted all the schoolwork to be done and over with. At this point, I was thrilled that I would be able to spend the summer between my freshman and sophomore years back home with my family and friends. I was happy knowing that I could finally spend my summer evenings down by Lake Michigan at my favorite coffee shops reading new books. I was happy knowing that I could go downtown to the local farmer’s market every Saturday morning and taste yummy samples and mingle with nice people. I was happy knowing that I could go to the movie theater every Tuesday night to catch the latest screenings for only $5.00 with some of my friends. I was happy knowing that I could spend these summer nights huddled around cozy bonfires with the families in my neighborhood. I was happy.

But here I am.

Now, it is summer.

I am still happy, but I am missing Madison.

I am missing my home away from home.

As I look back on my freshman year, I know I would not change a single aspect of it. Everything happened for a reason, and everything played a crucial role in making me the woman that I am today.

I am blessed that I got to spend my freshman year living and working in Liz Waters, a residence hall within the heart of UW-Madison’s campus. Here, I was able to meet an abundance of unique individuals, many of which I hope to continue establishing stronger friendships with.

I am happy that I took a variety rigorous courses. Here, I was able to challenge myself and continue setting and achieving my personal goals.

I am pleased that I decided to go through recruitment for greek life and become a part of such a wonderful sisterhood, which is Tri Delta. Here, I am accepted for who I am as a person and I am able to raise money for our philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

I am fortunate that I became an ambassador for Love Your Melon. Here, I can be a part of an organization with others that are on a mission to make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer, as we are all a part of something far greater than ourselves.

Furthermore, I wish I could spend more time bonding with all of the friends that I made. I miss the Saturday morning tailgates before Badger football games. I miss the concerts held at the Memorial Union Terrace, Orpheum, Frequency, and Overture Center. I miss the spontaneous coffee dates to my favorite coffee shops on State Street. I miss walking the campus every day, as everything was just so beautiful to look at.

I miss it all so much.

Many places, many faces. Many chances, many opportunities. As I have successfully transitioned back to my hometown from my college town, I have realized that the meaning of the term “home” has a multitude of interpretations. Spending my freshman year away at school has allowed me to start figuring out who I am as a person and what I have to contribute to this world.

Although I am currently back in my hometown, which I dearly missed, I cannot wait to return to Madison. Then, the cycle will start again. Hometown versus college town. College town versus hometown. I will always long for the places that mean the most to me. Home is not a place. Rather, it is a feeling. I guess having more than one home is not a bad thing. Instead, it is a feeling of bliss.

I stumbled upon a quotation to end this piece, and it goes like this:

“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart always will be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.” - Miriam Adeney