CLOCK PHOTO/JENNIFER TEPPER
One of the down falls about heading back to college is the things that are left behind. Whether a freshman or a senior, if an hour away or three, college doesn’t fill the voids that are left at home. Being homesick isn’t always a bad thing; it can cause people to start to appreciate the things they didn’t before. It could be the little brother that’s annoying or maybe even a favorite restaurant, college makes those all the more special.
It’s not always the material things that students miss; it could be something as simple as wanting best of both worlds. “Being home then having to come back to school sometimes sucks but then it’s also nice getting away from your family” said Casey Cabezas, a junior at Plymouth State University. It could be the little things that aren’t appreciated as much when students are home. Junior Colin Crane said, “Home cooked meals and my dog sleeping with me” is what he misses about home.
Family and friends are the most common factor that students miss. “The most I miss about home is my momma” said Bobby Savoia, a junior here at Plymouth State. Kelsey Paddol, an undergraduate at PSU said, “Not being able to see my parents and sister every day is hard, I definitely miss them the most.” She also misses the everyday tasks at home, “Being on a different daily routine at home is much different than my routine here at school, so I miss that too”. Pets come in a close second after family and friends. It could be the pet that’s been around for 14 years or maybe just a few months, they still keep a special place in student’s hearts. “The second thing I miss deeply when I’m away from home is my cat, Catdog. I always get really sad leaving him and get really lonely without him at school” said Dom Buccieri, a student at Plymouth State.
Since Plymouth is a small town, coming from another small town can be an easy transition but there are still things that can’t be replaced from home. “I miss ice skating and playing hockey with my siblings the most. I also miss cooking over my wood stove; it’s warming and delicious. We spend the days out on our frozen lake and then retreat inside for a comforting meal” said Kimberly Bain, a junior at PSU.
Many students don’t realize what they’re leaving behind at home, especially freshmen; being so excited to move out and to be on their own for the first time. After a while those students start to miss home and some even feel embarrassed by it, but those feelings are just human nature. No matter how a student feels, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Even though there are an endless amount of reasons why home is the best place to be, Plymouth State University can be a home away from home.