Your Name
Professor Name
Subject Name
04 September 20XX
Home
What is home? Where do you feel at home? That’s a question only you can answer. Home can be anything, anywhere. You might find it with your dog, curled up with your favorite book, or surrounded by loved ones. But feeling at home isn’t always simple. It’s more than just a place, it’s a feeling, a feeling so complex that no dictionary can truly capture it. Home is something that shapes you, builds you, and molds your personality. It inspires you to be better and to smile more. That’s why “feeling at home” is such a complex idea. Some people mistakenly look for that feeling in things like drugs, but that’s not home.
I used to think that Ft. Lauderdale was my home. I have lived here my whole life with my mom and brother. But then I moved to Panama City Beach. At first, I hated it. But after a while, I met amazing people and made friends I never thought I’d still have after moving back to Ft Lauderdale.
Panama City Beach was small, but it had such a huge impact on my life. Now, that place is what I call home. They became my family, my heart. They changed who I was. Honestly, I was a terrible person before I moved there. I got in trouble a lot, made friends with the wrong people, and struggled with my grades. But then, everything changed. For the first time in my life, I felt like myself. I earned my first three awards which were two A and B Honor Rolls and one English Academic Award, and I was so proud of myself especially in front of my mom. The smile on her face could light up an entire room. I had never been so happy. I miss them so much.
They helped me find my identity, my style, introduced me to so many amazing new things and encouraged me to keep exploring and never stop improving myself. My family made me who I am today, and I’m so grateful to have them in my life. They showed me what it means to be loved, appreciated, and comforted by someone who isn’t a family member. I’ve never felt so happy or normal.
But then, everything I had built for myself, I almost had to leave behind. I dreaded the day I had to leave. Have you ever had that feeling when you receive the worst news of your life, and your whole body just shuts down completely? You can feel the pain of that message in every crevice of your body, from the inside out, from your head to your toes.
I can’t really explain why I left, it’s too personal. But I can say that the decision was out of my control. Too many situations and problems kept piling up, and sooner or later, I knew my mom would get tired of it and decide to take me back. It was just a matter of time. What makes it hurt even more, though, is the way it happened. I let someone take my home away from me (it wasn’t my mom, she was just trying to do what’s best for me, but I won’t say who it was).
Knowing that I probably won’t be getting it back anytime soon hurts. It makes me want to curl up in a hole and wonder what I could’ve done differently so I wouldn’t have had to leave. Sleepless nights fill my mind, and I keep wondering if I’ll ever get it back. My friends text me saying they miss me, and sometimes it makes my eyes water. I just want to break down, but I don’t want anyone to worry. I tell them that if I had the choice to stay in that hell, I would have stayed without a second thought. But they keep telling me, “No, Gemini, you made the right decision. Get out of there.”
That night, though, knowing I was losing everything I had built crushed me. It broke me. I tried to hide it, but I feel like it’s slowly coming back, and I don’t know what to do anymore. I’m so sorry for leaving. I lost it, and I need it back. A piece of me died as I got into that car, and I need it back. I hate this feeling, and I want it to go away forever, but we’re human, so I know it can’t.
Seeing my best friend cry her eyes out that day felt like being beaten to death by a hundred people. I didn’t feel it at first, but once everything went quiet, I couldn’t ignore it. I lay there, staring at the pitch-black ceiling, the fan spinning the same way the thoughts in my head spin.
Then I started getting messages from friends who had just heard about what happened, since everything happened so quickly. These were messages I never expected from people I just only met, especially a heartfelt “see you later” letter from both of my friends’ parents. It was such a well thought out message that almost brought me to tears coming from people I didn’t even know cared enough to reach out. They told me how much of an impact I’d had on their lives, how amazing I was, and how much they enjoyed talking to me. They said nothing would be the same without me and that I’d always have a home with them. They reminded me to never change who I am, that I’m an amazing, funny, respectful, and creative person. They knew things must be tough for me right now, but they told me not to forget where I came from, what I call home, and to always keep my head up. No matter what life throws at me or where life takes me, they said to keep smiling.
After reading and hearing all the kind things they said about me, I felt something I haven’t felt in a long time and it felt amazing. I’ve never felt this way before, especially when I was living in Fort Lauderdale. I’ve never felt so loved and appreciated. It felt warm and wonderful to see how much I’ve made so many people happy and how I’ve made their lives better. It’s truly amazing.
For them, I want to keep up the good work. I want to keep improving, keep getting better, keep exploring my true self and keep making people smile. I want to achieve what my future self could only dream of. I want to keep moving forward, showing them that nothing will change me. Nothing will change what Panama City helped shape me into a person who can wake up, smile at himself in the mirror, and know that everything will be okay. I won’t let their efforts be in vain.
To conclude, by offering this memoir, what I’m saying is this: I want to show the people who have had to leave the place they called “home” that they are not alone. Yes, it may be really, really hard, but don’t let that discourage you from trying to make yourself at home where you are now. Your friends and family wouldn’t want you to feel empty or like an outcast. For a while, you may feel like you don’t belong, like a stranger, but I promise it will get better. They would want you to keep your head up and keep moving forward, no matter what.
As I said, home can be anything and anywhere. This means you can find a new home. I’m not saying to forget about your old home, but it’s okay to find a new one, just as similar as possible to the old. A home is built on a steady foundation, and if that foundation is strong enough, it will never collapse. So, your old home will never truly fall, it will always live in your memories, whether it’s something you miss doing or a place you miss visiting.
Though our bodies and minds may fade, our soul remains, and our home will always dwell in that soul. But always be careful of what you call home. Don’t mistake a cardboard box for a warm house. That foundation will slowly crumble and collapse, leaving you in a mess of rubble, wondering what to do next, with no one to turn to. As soon as times get tough, people may leave. So, appreciate your home, remember where you came from, and always keep your head up. A “home” isn’t always just a place made of stone, brick, or wood with four walls and a roof. No, a home is a place where you find peace and happiness.
Now here are some photos of my home :3333
