Maya Angelou once emoted, “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” For me, home began with a view of blurred treetops basking in the sunlight. As my best friend Rachel and I drove past the sun shining over a grand body of water we reached a town. There was the most tranquil house I had ever seen. The home was a representation of her Aunt’s dreams coming into play, something I could only hope for. I have found my home away from home only 60 miles away in New Hope, PA. This home, where I found myself, is where I feel the most content. It is where I can emerge as the truest version of myself.
New Hope has shown me the value of creativity, community minded people, and how art can be applied to every aspect of your life. It’s ironic that her Aunt’s shop is named “Soul, Body, and Home” because it fully explains why when I’m leaving New Hope, I feel as is I’m leaving my soul behind. As we ventured into town, we visited Farley’s bookshop. The shop is non-commercial and modest. There I picked up the first book that got me involved in literature again. Then I recall as we passed “Moo Hope Icecream”, I saw it for the first time. The bridge. When I walk over the bridge and watch the Delaware River end where the mountains kiss the skyline, I transcend to a place where I truly feel like myself. There’s something so freeing about the wind brushing the water as cars speed by and families photograph each other in unison. When we crossed the Lambertville bridge and suddenly appeared in a different state, Lambertville, New Jersey, Rachel and I walked down to the side of the river where ducklings greeted us as the sun fell and greeted the river. As we made our way into Lambertville, we were shocked by the change in scenery. It was modern, high-class, and did have the friendly aroma that New Hope did. Walking back over the bridge from Lambertville to New Hope was awfully significant for me. Lambertville represented a conservative and structured life, and New Hope represented art, love, and compassion. This conservative and structured life reminded me of my parents. I am the first generation born in America and they’re still living on the Albanian precedent they grew up with. It’s no question that this mindset isn’t shared by me. I am progressing, as they are stagnant.
New Hope was previously named “Coryell’s Ferry” because travelers would be ferried across the river. However, a fire in 1790 burnt down the area and its reconstruction was a “New Hope”. Something similar happened in my life. On October 3rd, 2011, my mom got into a car accident in which she was hit from the drivers side while driving alone. Falling into patterns of procrastination and bad study habits comes with ease when your home life is ripping at the seams. It was up to me to turn things around. Junior year hit me hard with a wakeup call. I suddenly became involved because I wanted to succeed. Just as the reconstruction of Coryell’s Ferry was a new hope, my reconstruction was a new hope.
When I am asked what my motivation to go away to college is, I provide the same answer. College is not only an escape from my daily life, it is an escape from everything that I believe went wrong growing up. The way that I used my junior year to make my goals a reality has really set a precedent for my success. College is the end of the bridge, as I am walking away from all that I have faced. It is my chance to turn all of my compassion and dedication into something important. College is my New Hope.
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