It's almost that time of year when college students return home for the holidays. One thing we're all too familiar with is the endless string of questions from relatives. "How's school?" "What's your major?" "Any men in your life?" The questions never end. As someone who goes to school out of state I get this question both when I go home and while I'm at school, no matter how many times I tell people. Why do you go to school out of state? There are a number of reasons to answer this question, of which I use one or a combination of depending on the person.
First: New Mexico is my home, I grew up here. I lived in Albuquerque from age 7 through my sophomore year of high school. I don't remember much from before I moved here, and the two years in high school I was going through a lot and don't remember it as the happiest time. I lost my mom my sophomore year of high school, in Albuquerque. For my dad that makes it hard to be here, everything reminds him of her which makes him miss her. It also reminds me of her, though for me it makes me feel closer to her, remembering my mom makes it easier for me. To sum up: Albuquerque is a place full of happy memories for me. This is just like how you might have memories of your childhood home.
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1. Albuquerque is a place full of happy memories for me.
2. When I go home my family and I don't waste a moment arguing. 3. New Mexico needs good teachers. 4. Secondary Education as a major is uncommon, UNM offers it. 5. Albuquerque has great weather, unique culture, and diverse people. |
Second: Being away from home has greatly improved my relationship with my family. I didn't know this when I left, but I know it clearly now. When my sister Elisa and I were little we shared a room for fourteen years and we fought all the time, when we moved to Minnesota we each got our own room which caused us to become the closest we've ever been. The same is true with my family as a whole. I still have issues with my family, blended families are hard and so is growing up. Since I starting going to school in Albuquerque though, my relationship with all members of my family has gotten significantly better. My dad is back to being my precious daddy who loves me and wants to take care of me and I only have a short amount of time with my family when I go back so we don't waste a moment arguing.
Third: Albuquerque needs me. When I graduate from the University of New Mexico, I will be licensed to teach in New Mexico, I'll have to apply separately for licenses in different states. New Mexico needs good teachers. According to WalletHub's best and worst schools list (see graphic below) - states for teachers, Minnesota is the third best state for teachers, New Mexico is forty-third. What this tells me is that Minnesota is going to get lots of options for good teachers and New Mexico isn't. According to US News' Best High Schools Rankings Minnesota has 181 schools earning gold, silver, or bronze medals; New Mexico only has 54 medals. Long story short: New Mexico needs good teachers passionate about learning and education, that's what I am.
Source: WalletHub
Fourth: UNM is a very well priced school, and offers my degree. While education is a very common degree, secondary education as a degree and not simply a minor is uncommon. UNM offers it, secondary education as a minor includes less focus on education and more on specific subjects. It's important to me that my degree is in education with math as the afterthought (minor), 28% of math teachers in the US don't hold a degree in math (according to the National Center for Education Statistics). I am passionate about education and also really love math, I want my degree to reflect that.
Fifth: Albuquerque has great weather, unique culture, and diverse people. Snow is more fun if it only happens once in a while and school gets cancelled for it. In the fall we have the balloon fiesta, which is one of my favorite times of the year. Most of all I love the diversity of people: ethnicities, family sizes, financial status, religion, and more.
I love New Mexico and I love my school. I wouldn't want to go to any school and I have friends at many other schools all across the country. Next time you wonder why I go to school 1000 miles from my family, you'll know why! Why do you go to your school, whether it's close to or far from your family?