When Welcome Weekend rolled around back in August, I repeatedly heard the sayings “welcome home” and “home under the dome” almost to the point of annoyance. To me, this seemed absurdly impossible. Nothing and no one could beat the relationships I had with my family and high school friends or the great memories I had made at home. I apprehensively moved in, unsure of what to the next few years would hold. Luckily, I was wrong. It didn’t take long to find friends who already feel like family and activities that allow me to explore my passions. Now I have a completely new dilemma: Where is home? My cramped, messy room in Lyons Hall or my house back in the Chicago suburbs? When I’m at school I miss family dinners and my mom’s home cooking. When I’m finally home, I miss the social atmosphere of South Dining Hall and, surprisingly, occasionally miss the food. Then there’s the constant cycle of missing friends from home when I’m at school and missing Notre Dame friends during long breaks at home. I miss having my mom take care of me when I’m sick or do my laundry, yet I also miss the independence of making my own decisions like choosing what I do on weekends or when I go to bed that I have when I’m at Notre Dame. Is there any way to evade this persistent homesickness? However, is this really a bad problem to have? Notre Dame students are lucky enough to have found a home away from home. The dorm life, the inclusive community and school spirit has made this campus feel like home to its students. There are always new, interesting people to meet and unique opportunities to explore. The student body has a tendency to complain relentlessly about certain aspects of the school, like run-down dorms, the never-ending snow or dining hall meals. Regardless, this place has given us some of the best memories and friendships that will last long past our days at Notre Dame. That in and of itself makes up for this school’s relatively minor flaws. I know that, for me, there’s no place like home, regardless of whether it’s at Notre Dame or back in Chicago.
Betsy Keefe
freshman
April 17
