This essay was originally published in March 2022. It’s back-to-school time, so we’re heading back to Fall 1997 when I first started college.

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Please be advised: in this essay exploring homesickness, there is an encounter with a friend who briefly describes her sexual assault.

Reflection questions:

* What do you remember about your first semester of college (if you did not attend college, what do you remember about being 18 years old)?

* Have you ever felt homesick in a way that surprised you? How did you cope with this uncomfortable feeling, and did something good (or bad) come out of it?

* When does a place truly feel like home?

Image: Photos from my freshman year album.

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