7/12/2023

Coming Home

Don’t let the craziness of life take away time with your family, because at the end of the day, that’s what’s most important!

About six years ago, I, like most people, was faced with the big decision of choosing where I wanted to attend college. Do I enroll in a school nearby and live at home to save money? Do I find a school close enough to drive home on weekends when I want to? Or do I choose a school across the country to spark a big change in my life? After a glance at the upcoming Arizona weather forecast and learning more about the school online, the choice became very easy.

Living in Arizona for five years was the best choice I had ever made. I couldn’t have asked for a better college experience, and I’m so grateful that my mom let me take the risk and go out there. I may have been the first person ever to not visit a school before enrolling in it, and let’s just say my mom was not the happiest camper when she dropped me off at my new apartment – which wasn’t in the nicest area.

When my time out west came to an end, I was uncertain if I was making the right choice to move back home. I had created a new life in Arizona and going back to the colder weather was not on the top of my to-do list. But I couldn’t be happier that I did. I immediately got to make up for the lost time I’d missed with my family. I missed birthdays, graduations, weddings, and plenty of other events that I could not just hop on a plane for. It reminded me of the importance of being close to family. I heard a quote once that stuck with me: “When you enter this world and when you leave it, you only have one thing, and that’s your last name.” At the end of the day, family is what is most important, and being back with them has been a blessing. Don’t let the craziness of life take away time with your family, because at the end of the day, that’s what’s most important!

- Anthony Cusanelli