The moment I stepped onto the Notre Dame campus, I fell in love with the school.
Ever since, I've continued to love the school and the people, but until recently, I was not ready to call it my home. Throughout the year I have been one of those students who get so excited to go home for break.
I think, "Wow, I am so excited to go home and see my old friends and family, sleep in my queen sized bed, shower without sandals, eat food outside the dining halls, etc."
But this spring break I realized something. I realized that Notre Dame is my new home, my college friends are my true friends, and, frankly, I really enjoy (and I am now used to) the freedom of college.
My spring break started out awesomely. I went home to Scottsdale, Arizona. My parents picked me up from the airport Friday afternoon, and then I met up with my best friend, and we all went out to dinner.
On Saturday, my mom took me shopping and we got our nails done. I went to a spring training game with my mom and my dog (kind of random I know) on Sunday and then on Monday I went to lunch and did some more shopping with more friends. But by Tuesday I was already bored. Some friends and family went back to work and back to school while others had already drifted so far apart from me.
I've grown so accustomed to the freedom of living on my own (well at least away from my parents). I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want on campus.
At home I'm back under my parents constraints. My parents aren't too strict or anything, but I can't randomly leave at two o'clock in the morning if I feel like it. And I can't come home one night without an explanation if I don't want to give one.
Also, at home my friends aren't always a 10-minute walk from my room like they are at school. It takes a little more planning and driving to hang out with anyone at home. All in all, I really enjoy the freedom and convenience of living on campus.
As spring break comes to an end, I'm ready to head back to my home under the Dome. My week off school has been relaxing, but, like my family and friends in Arizona, I'm ready to get back to work and back to life as I now know it. During this break, I realized Notre Dame is my new home, and my friends at school are my true friends. As ironic as it is, I'm excited to sleep in my twin-sized bunk bed, share a room with my amazing roomies, use the community bathrooms, shower with sandals and most of all, wear a sweatshirt again.
