What Does "Home" Mean To You?

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I missed home or my family, I would be able to afford a plane ticket home. But I really don't mind people asking me that even though its a little bit of a duh, I know they care about me thats why they ask, but here is an answer to that question.....

I miss Nigeria, I spent the first fifteen years of my life there, my entire family is there, and I've made lifelong friends and memories that are engraved in my heart. But at the same time, I love being away from home, I always have. I love my family and my parents have given so much of their life to make me the person I am today, I will always cherish the house that built me. But some of the most valuable life lessons I have learned have been after I first ventured away from home at 11 years old. I guess not all those who wander are lost.

Its fun hearing people talk about home in College and seeing how it means something different to different people; ranging from people who are always homesick and try to go home every weekend, to people who love the freedom of college and rarely head back home, and everything in between.
But the truth is the ache and longing for home lives inside all of us, we all just define home a little different.

To some people, home is wherever they are born/raised, they will never leave because it feels like home. To some people home is not a place, its a person, whether its a friend or a significant other, but being with them feels like home. To some, home is an activity, weather its a hobby or a job, but they discover themselves doing that certain activity and it feels like home. 
And it goes all the way to the little things, to some home is a hot cup of coffee, a smile from a stranger, the cold summer breeze, a warm hug from a loved one, a shoulder to cry on. The key is to not think, but feel, and if it feels like home, then follow its path.

But then there are many others out there who are still searching for what home means to them. Marian Keyes once said “I had spent my whole life feeling homesick. The only difference was that I didn't know what or where home was.” Home is where our story starts, but it doesn't have to end there. Don't be afraid to leave things behind in search for home, several obstacles might try to hold you back, but may the bridges you burn light the way. 

"The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home." - C. S. Lewis

If you look at the bigger picture, our whole lives on earth is about us finding home. Its not just where you're form, its where you find light when all else goes dark. Life takes us to unexpected places, but love brings us home :)

College: Bringing People In and Out Your Life

For most college students, the end of the year isn't their favorite time of the year. There are finals to deal with, tons of papers and projects to finish, the stress level of everyone is high, etc etc However, I dread the end of every semester for a different reason, it signifies the end of relationships that have blossomed over the course of the semester.

I am a people person (shocker, I know), and I believe that every individual I meet has their unique thoughts and special qualities that I am always curious about. Being an RA this year has given me the opportunity to connect with the residents on my hall and we have pretty much been one big dysfunctional family over the past couple of semesters. But as I checked them out of their rooms one last time, my heart was heavy with sadness even though I tried to act all normal outside.

One of my residents, Chonosuke Asano, is transferring to the East Coast. Helping him check out was like an "I dare you not to cry" challenge to me. Chonosuke is an international student from Japan and he had this charming personality that enchanted anyone he interacted with, I would write more about him but that is a blog post of its own.

Ultimately, I will miss every single person that lived on my hall this year, I already do. Every single one of them brought a very different character and personality that I really appreciated this past year. I would not trade my first year RA experience for anything. The arguments,  the "bro time", the "girl problem" talks, Fancy Fridays, ordering pizza, and so many other things, are memories that I will cherish for a long time.

I'll miss Fancy Fridays with Wes and Josh

The beginning of every semester is a joyful time for me, there are very few things I enjoy more than meeting new people, but I dread the end. Transfers, different schedules, graduations, etc means that you wont quite always have the same level of friendship the following year.  This is why I cherish every single person I meet at Morningside, every single hello, every single chance of meeting someone new, because you never know, they could be your bffs or that might be the only time you see them, and everything else in-between.

This picture doesn't need a caption #PPOT

With graduation coming up, its not going to get any easier, I have made so many friends in this graduating class and I know I am going to miss them next year. I wish knowing ahead would make it any easier but it really doesn't. One person I'll definitely be missing in this graduating class is Paige Potter. Paige is prove that when they say "friends become family" its not just a cliche, I love getting letters from her mom that say "from your Laurens mom." I cant believe its already time for her to graduate. Oh how time flies!


I hope no one takes this blog post as me complaining. Even though I miss the people that I meet briefly in college, I know that life is full of changes and I have learned to embrace it. Hopefully people moving on is a sign of growth for them. Maybe they are happier where they are now, or maybe this is just optimistic Paul trying to see the positive in everything. Whatever it is, I know I am looking forward to next year and all the friendships it will bring.