During my time on campus thus far, I have come across very few individuals who have no desire to ever leave Florida. About 97 percent of UF students come from Florida, and many of the other 3 percent have lived in Florida in the past or have close family in-state, according to Study Point, a college-admissions website. As the premier university in this wonderful state, UF’s reputation dominates all markets up and down the peninsula. However, many students entertain the thought of starting their careers elsewhere. This is completely normal, as it is natural for young people to desire new landscapes, people and environments, but the level of longing for new sights and sounds seems to vary greatly among individuals.
For some, taking occasional vacations to other states and countries is enough to satisfy this urge. For many others, the idea of beginning life anew and away from all that is familiar in the Sunshine State can be compelling.
There is no doubt I would consider myself in the latter group. To me, life is just too tragically brief to spend an entire lifetime comfortably situated in one place. The problem I face, however, is the incessant inquiring of whether I am right in believing my group is “the best.” Is there something that the never-leave-Florida group knows that I do not? Is there something critical about Florida that I am possibly missing in my considerations?
I am often reminded by others of the fact that millions of Americans save up their earnings in order to fly south just to spend a few days in Florida, whether that be sipping smoothies by the beach or sweating with Mickey Mouse. For decades upon decades, Florida has been a red-hot destination for people all over this great continent. Am I, someone who has only experienced snow a couple of times, naive for thinking there are tons of states as or more appealing than the 27th? Should the fact I was raised in a city that millions from around the world visit tell me something?
Sometimes, I get discouraged by the fact that the U.S. is just too vast, making it physically impossible to experience all of it in a single lifetime. Some days I want to start a life in a coastal city in New England, and other days I wonder what life is like on the much laxer Pacific coast. The more places I learn of, the longer my list of possible homes grows, yet the same question always remains: no matter where I end up, will I eventually long to return home? Will I be hit with the realization that I had it great growing up in Florida, and that it was stupid of me to ever leave in the first place?
Maybe.
Maybe I’m very, very wrong and Florida is, in fact, the place for me. But how will I ever know if I do not at least try to exist somewhere else? If I do not move away, even if just for a little while, then I will never be entirely sure of this state.
Florida is dreadfully flat, hellishly hot and, in some places, only a suffocating, humid swamp. It is home to some truly psychotic people, absurd newspaper headlines and a large mouse that dominates most of the economy. It is one of those states that people either love or hate.
Florida may be many things, but one of those things is home.
So, Florida, if I leave you and think I found someone better, do not lament me, because there is a very good chance I will eventually, when all is said and done, return home. I am rather sure of this.
Andrew Hall is a UF management junior. His column appears on Fridays.
