2025/Kean-

In a dictionary, a home is defined as a place of residence, where you lay down your roots. But home is way more than that, home isn’t a physical place, but is the people that you feel loved and connected with. “Home is where the heart is.” This quote perfectly summarizes this idea, stating that home is where you feel valued.

I feel valued by the people I care for, who can make me smile and laugh. Those people make me lose my sense of time, making me wish that the day would last just a little longer. My definition of a home goes beyond that of a house, its walls extend far throughout the globe. These people are the walls that support the roof, that keep me safe and warm. These walls are in Florida, Okinawa, Germany, Missouri, and everywhere else. Your home is different from your house, it’s where you grow and learn about yourself, supporting you like a foundation.

Like a foundation, this home is what creates you, the building blocks of your personality. Each brick is placed from your experiences or other people, good or bad.

Unlike a house, however, each brick is replaceable. When new memories form or life lessons are learned, you can remove the negativity from your home. Not all homes are perfect; some people’s homes are nicer than others, but that’s beautiful in a way, having all these unique and distinctive personalities. But like all houses, a home can be destroyed.

Do you know that moment when you feel like your whole world is ablaze? Like when a friend moves away or you make a fatal mistake in a sports match? Those realizations can destroy your home’s foundation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t mend those broken pieces. Even when the walls around you fall, you can rebuild your home, better or worse, it just depends on how you react. Unlike a house, a home is never truly lost, pieces of it will always remain with you no matter what, they’re memories of your experiences and adventures.

My memories are home, and I’ll carry them in my heart. All the memories I’ve shared, laughing with friends, learning lessons, plotting shenanigans, and sharing hardships, will always be part of my home, and I will cherish them, even if these people move away. As a military kid, I’ve learned that making connections is more important. It helps make the moments you experience more surreal, even though your time with people is limited. In the end, home isn’t where you are, but it’s who you’re with and the adventures you’ve made.

The word “home” is truly complex, and its definition goes far deeper emotionally than first seen. Sometimes words don’t capture the real meaning of an idea, as a home isn’t just a place, it's a place where you build your foundation. It’s a place of belonging, where you feel warmth and enjoy being yourself. It’s built of the memories of your life experiences, lessons, and joys, it’s where you feel understood. And most of all, it’s where the people that you associate with are, no matter where they are in the world. That's the concept of home.