Six hours are spent on the highway every time I travel from my home in Kansas City to Peoria.
It can be difficult knowing how far away from home I really am. After all, Peoria was a completely new environment when I first came here and I knew absolutely nothing about this place.
As excited as I was to be in a new environment and to be independent, it quickly hit me that I was away from everyone I grew up with.
It definitely was going to take some adjusting, and I needed to get myself out there if I wanted to avoid getting extremely homesick.
So I did. I went out and got involved with Tthe Scout and started taking part in numerous volunteer activities which have allowed me to meet new people and form new friendships.
While I may no longer be around the same people I was with at home, getting involved has helped fill a void in me and given me people I can talk to or hang out with from time to time.
I also like to remind myself I’ve been gifted with the opportunity to pursue a higher education that will push me toward a career, which gives me even more reason to keep going every day.
As difficult as it is being away from home, I feel it’s always important to make the best of a situation and remember exactly why I’m here to begin with.
So while it is a long drive from Kansas City to Peoria, I think it’s safe to say I have adapted well and been able to turn this unfamiliar place into a home away from home.
