Living in Boone and going to ASU, not necessarily a bad thing

April Klassen - Features Beat

Most Appalachian State University students cannot avoid the inconveniences and changes that occur after leaving home. Whether they are combating for a washer in the laundry room, downing the fifth pack of Easy Mac that week or spending several dollars calling home, students must adapt to the daily issues that result from leaving home.

However, Appalachian State students who grew up in Boone have an option. They can avoid these seemingly trivial and bothersome issues while gaining the ‘college experience.’

Escaping the nuisances of residence hall life is the greatest advantage of attending college in your hometown, said sophomore Stacey Russell.

“It’s good to be able to get away, do laundry and eat home cooking,” said Russell with laugh. “When it gets too loud in my dorm, I can go home and stay the night. It makes it easier to deal with dorm problems.”

Familiarity is another advantage for students who grew up in the Boone community. “Knowing people is probably the best aspect of going to college in your hometown,” said senior Josh Eller. “You know all the locals and business people. You’re not a stranger.”

Eller feels his familiarity with the area made it easier for him to adapt to college. “I know if I need anything, I have the resources to get it,” he said. “Like if I had car trouble, I know where to go.

“If you’re not from here you have questions like, ‘Where do I go if I have car trouble?’ or ‘Where do I go if I get sick?’”

Other Boone natives feel familiarity can be both positive and negative. “I know a lot about the community. I know everything about Boone and I know people on campus, said senior Sarah Shoemake. “It can be an advantage and a disadvantage because we don’t get a new experience. When most people go to college, they get a totally new experience.”

Although he feels at a disadvantage with meeting new people, freshman Nathan Bland admits the ties to Boone can be a plus in other areas.

“You still know a lot of people in the community, and you don’t get the full effect of meeting new people in everything you do,” said Bland. “[But] in coming to Appalachian State, it was easy for me to get a job and have tons of friends just from knowing a lot of people on campus from Boone.”

A challenge that results from familiarity with the community is breaking away from high school experiences.

“It’s hard because I am trying to experience new things and the old things are still here. I am in a new school, but my old high school is still here,” said Russell. “I can still go to every game. Church stuff is hard when I try to do new stuff but I stay involved with the youth. I end up taking on too much.”

Shoemake agrees that becoming involved in college activities is a challenge. “It’s pretty easy not to get involved when you’re in your hometown because you’re already involved with stuff in the community,” she said.

Some students choose to live in dorms rather than at home in order to gain independence and experience college life.

“I wanted to have the experience of being on my own, and my dad wanted me to have the experience of living the college life,” said Russell. “Living in the dorm helped me meet new people. If I stayed home, it would’ve been harder to make new friends.”
Bland chose to live in a dorm for similar reasons. “I definitely wanted the whole college experience, meet new people and have a lot of fun. I have a friend who lives at home and I can tell he missed out on a lot of stuff,” he said.

Freshman Daniel Witson chose the less-expensive option of living at home.

Living at home while attending college is not bothersome and he does not miss out on anything, he said.

“You have a lot of support when you need it. I have a close family and I always have people to go to when I need it,” said Witson.

Other students feel being close to home can be a hindrance.
Although Eller loves his parents, enjoys home-cooked meals and appreciates the opportunity to drive right down the road whenever he needs anything, he does not always take advantage of it.

“I’ve actually never taken laundry home,” said Eller. “I’d say that if there is any disadvantage [to attending college in your hometown] it is the constant closeness to home. I think it’s good to get away.

“I want responsibility, and I want to be on my own.”
Shoemake moved back into her parents’ house this year after living three years on her own. She feels it was an easy transition because she can still take advantage of her independence.

“I’m never there, so it’s not like I’m really at home. I gained my independence, and they [her parents] respect that,” she said.
Although they are close to the home that once sheltered them, Boone natives face the same temptations that all college students face.

Russell feels that although she does not desire to involve herself in the party scene, being close to home also makes her think twice about it.

“I feel the pressures. I get the opportunities to go out, but I don’t do those things anyway. I try to be very considerate of my family, especially with my dad being a preacher. The opportunities are there but I don’t partake in them,” she said.
After comparing their experiences with those of friends who left town for college, students from Boone feel that attending college at home is easier.

“They had to meet new people and probably work a lot harder to adapt than I did,” said Eller.

“When I talk to [friends], I can definitely tell a difference. They had to adjust to a whole new place. It was definitely a much harder transition for them,” said Witson. “It was really easy for me to transition because of the familiarity thing. I didn’t have to move a lot of stuff or do a lot of traveling.”

Other students feel while some aspect may have been easier, attending college is an experience that affects everyone. “My experience is definitely easier because there is not as much involved in the moving process or leaving friends. Our experiences are equal because no matter where you are you still experience the same academic world, and you’re still meeting tons of new
people,” said Bland.

Some feel the experience can be hard if a student becomes complacent. “It is easier because you’re not dealing with new experiences like everyone else. Trying to make a new experience can be hard. You make of it what you want. You can get involved and make it a new experience or you can not get involved because you’ve been here,” said Shoemake.

Students from Boone recognize their differing experience when everyone else returns home on breaks.

“When everyone goes on break, I am still here. It’s difficult because everyone has somewhere to go, and I am still here,” said Russell.

Some students take advantage of always being home and see it as a personal characteristic. “It’s just me. I’m here. I’m always here. It’s not difficult for me. I see it as an advantage to see my high school friends,” said Eller. “They stay with me because they don’t want to stay at home. I don’t know what it’s like to pack up and leave for the weekend.”