During my last year of high school, my classmates often talked about how much they couldn’t wait to graduate and move out of town. My big move happened a lot younger than 18, so I was more than happy to stay planted in sunny Florida. As anticipated, many of my friends left for college. What I didn’t expect was how many would come back. Some returned after a year. For others, it took a bit longer.
Moving back to one’s hometown, whether it’s due to another state not working out or some other context, is often viewed as a failure—a defeat. However, when friends returned to the Sunshine State to go to a local university or spend a year in the workforce before continuing their education, I viewed it as a victory—a hard-won lesson.
