“Home is not where you live but where they understand you”, a German author named Christian Morgenstern once said this. To me, this quote really captures what the meaning of “home” really is, it is not what is physically around you, it is about the people that surround you.
I feel most
at home when I am surrounded by my family. My family has been there with me
through out my seventeen years of life, which I am truly thankful for. As far
back as I could remember to crawling on the ground as a child, shoving my
fingers in the electric outlets only to let my two older sisters coming out
running after to me to save me from my own stupidity, to now, taking about
college and going on visits with them, when I am with my family they teach me
so many things. They taught me to be comfortable in my own skin, to be
confident despite what anyone says. One of my sisters Alex especially taught me
this, although she may only be 5’1, she really is one tough cookie. Being surrounded by my family and learning
from them is what helped me become the confident person I am today. Being
surrounded by my family I always felt like I belonged there, that I couldn’t get
along so well and be understood so well by any other group of people. Despite
the little fights of what reality TV show we are watching tonight or who gets
to drive the car for today, I wouldn’t change my “home” or family, for
anything.
Another aspect where I feel at home
is with my cross country team. Ever since freshmen year up until now, for 4
years 5 days a week, I would go to cross country practice after school. I still
remember shy little freshmen Toni being so intimidated to even talk. To now,
senior year Toni who is now the captain leading the girls. This was my home for
the past four years. It is what I looked forward to at the end of a long school
day. Bring surrounded by the groups of girls all laughing with leaves crunching
underneath our feet, enjoying our run in the fall, this is what made it feel
like home. Everyone here understood why we run. It was a form of stress relief
and while running, in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was a way to escape
for a little and just enjoy your time with the company you had around you. Everyone
understood why you were there, whether you were the slowest runners on the team
or the fastest, we all understood, we all were on big family. I gained my love
of running through this family and it helped form my determined personality I have
today. Running is what fueled me to never give up. My family I have with cross
country taught me to never give up on myself either, because people depend on
you, in life and in races.
Home is
where you are loved and understood. Even if you live in a third world country
with no roof over your head, you still have a home if you have someone that
loves. People, who are home to you, teach you lessons and lets you develop yourself
as a person. Thanks to my homes, it is what made me into the person I am today.
Without my homes that I have experienced through out my life, I would not be
the person I am today.
