Connecticut, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City - these are just a few of the places I was able to visit during college.

One of the reasons I could visit these areas is because of their proximity to Massachusetts. It's something I never thought of before coming to college - the importance of location. I was excited by the prospect of being farther away from my home state of Arizona, and I loved how Cambridge, in comparison, was larger than my home city. But I never considered how being situated on the East Coast would open opportunities for exploration.

When I traveled in the past to California from Arizona for competitions or to visit amusement parks, it would take a minimum of 6 hours. But in Massachusetts, to go to Manhattan, it only takes a 3-hour drive. I'm lucky that the East Coast has great transportation systems like Amtrak, Greyhound, or even many available flights to these places, making for fast commutes. Getting to travel to these areas which have been on my bucket list, has only enriched my college experience, but it is not something I considered when I was applying for college.

When I applied to college, I rationalized my anticipated homesickness by knowing I could come back home to Arizona whenever I wanted. If I got homesick, then when Spring Break or Thanksgiving rolled around, I would find myself on a flight back home. Yet, even after weeks of anticipation for these breaks, a high-ticket price would remain constant. I would have to pay more than double what it would cost me to go home for the summer and winter months to go during these shorter breaks. The flights, even though they are pricey, still include long layovers and inconvenient arrival and departure times. All these factors mean that I find it hard during Spring and Thanksgiving breaks to go home and enjoy a change of pace. However, being on the East Coast means I can commute somewhere for a short period of time and get to enjoy a change in pace in a different area. It's fun to travel to a different area and enjoy local eats like a Philly Cheesesteak. My commute time is short, so I can spend more time in these places and get back to campus with time to spare before the break ends.

At the end of the day, it's nice to travel to nearby areas during the shorter college breaks. Being on the East Coast allows me to do that without spending all that time commuting. I hope that when you apply to college, you also consider what is in proximity to your school and whether that sounds fun to you and aligns with what you want to explore during college.

Life is a journey, but it's fun when the commute is short!