When I first decided to move to Boston for college, I got hit with the same two questions over and over again: “Why are you going so far away?" and "Do you just want to be away from your family?” When I finally came to Boston, I saw the same reaction in my new peers. “Why would you leave California? The weather there is always amazing; it’s basically paradise.” Now that I have lived in Boston for a little less than a year, I can confidently say that I made the right decision in moving here. There wasn’t any hesitation earlier and there isn’t any now.

I have been wanting to come to Boston for higher education for as long as I can remember, it wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. I had spent quite some time thinking about pursuing my college career on the east coast. A lot of factors played into my choice of moving 3,000 miles away from home. One of them being the fact that I’m an engineering major. Yes, the Silicon Valley is the prime location for engineering students, but that doesn’t mean that other major cities across the nation aren’t. I knew for sure that after attending college, I would work and settle down in California anyways. College became an easy outlet for me to experience a new lifestyle in an entirely new coast, with the same and even different but equal opportunities I would have found in my home state.

I can also say with 110% assurance that I didn’t want to move so far away because I wanted to be distant from my family. They are my rock, and I always get homesick; I’m constantly missing the home-cooked meals, talks with my parents and movie nights with my siblings. Before anyone else, my family members are my best friends. In fact, my parents were the ones who supported me the most with my big move. Being far from home also allowed me to really step outside of my comfort zone, especially because I live and attend school in the city. I gained a new sense of independence, that I don’t know if I personally could have gotten elsewhere.

I’m also from the suburbs in the Bay Area. I lived in the same town my entire life, moving only once, but even then it wasn’t a big deal. Somehow, everyone just knew everyone. It became a little bit of a bubble. There was this comforting sense of familiarity there, and I wanted to leave that comfort to be exposed to something different. And don’t get me wrong, the Bay is a whole different level of excitement, diversity and really good food. And our sports teams are like no other. The Bay is “hella lit” but sometimes, you just need to venture out to different places to really get a sense of yourself. And by the way, living in California doesn’t always mean sunny days. The weather in the Bay fluctuates just as much as New England’s weather. The only difference is that it doesn’t snow back home or get as cold as the east coast.

If anyone has lived on both coasts, you will understand when I say that there are some major differences between the two. Everything in California is super laid back, whereas on the east coast, it’s quite the opposite; everyone here is in a huge rush 24/7 - it’s all really fast-paced here. Both coasts ensure two different lifestyles and diversity.

Looking back at my year in Boston, I realize that I have really truly grown as an individual and young adult. I’ve made friends from all over the country and the world, had my own share of east-coast experiences and a whole lot of excitement that I honestly think can only be found in Boston. The Bay and California will always be my home, there is no doubt about it, but I’m also so happy to say that Boston is too. It’s just important to understand that California isn’t the only paradise there is.