I’ll say it: living at home is the best. It’s genuinely done a lot for me financially and mentally, and I love being at home in general. I have my dog and cat with me when I’m at home, which make great companions for when I’m feeling stressed or down from the hardships of college. I don’t have to pay for rent, utilities, groceries and car payments. I get to come home to the familiarity of my room and I can have that as my own little getaway while trying to rest for the next day. I can also drive anywhere I want without having to worry about getting a ride from someone or calling an Uber. Tucson in itself is also such a beautiful place that has so much to offer. It’s a big city with a small town feel; what more can you get from that?

I grew up in Tucson. Even though I was born in Oceanside, California, I moved here when I was six months old because my dad received a job offer. Ever since I’ve lived here, I’ve come to know the many things Tucson has to offer. It’s a small scale college town with many hidden gems like Park Place Mall and Fourth Avenue. I’ve been going to the University of Arizona’s football games since I was 5 years old. I’ve ridden a bike through campus and even visited some of the famous restaurants on University Boulevard, like Illegal Pete’s, No Anchovies and Gentle Ben’s Brewing Co.. It seemed that even long before I considered going to college that University of Arizona would be my second home.

So when my senior year of high school came around, it was time to decide what college I wanted to attend. In my heart I knew the UA would be it. But I had to consider what kind of life I wanted when it came to picking a college. Did I want to stay close to home? Would I be willing to live in the dorms? When I thought about the dorms, I was reminded of how my friends talked about them. They said things like the dorms are shady and rickety and not always clean. The dorms aren’t always well kept and you constantly have people knowing where you are and what your living situation is. 

There are also safety issues at the UA like stalking and homicides, and I already don’t feel safe when I’m walking to my car after a late night dance practice. Considering how much the UA has gone through, with the added financial crisis and the constant worry of safety, I wouldn’t want to live on campus. 

I wanted to stick with the familiarity of my hometown because going into college was already scary enough for me. I can stop by my favorite food spots and go to the mall whenever I want to. Now, being a junior in college, one would expect to move out of their parents’ home and start life anew because, well, it’s the norm. But I find moving out of my parents’ house to be intimidating considering the high rent prices of a studio apartment. Why would someone stress out about their bills and debt while being in college when they could have a house that is in close proximity to the university?  

I’m honestly still happy I’m able to live at home. I couldn’t imagine the added stresses of having to deal with payments and errands when I can just focus all of my attention and energy on my degree. While this is not always attainable for others, having a home in Tucson is a convenience in itself, and I’m surprised a lot of people who are from Tucson live in the dorms or apartments nearby when they can live at home. It’s cheaper and less stressful! While this may not be the conventional choice, it has certainly been the right one for me.

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Isabel Vidrio is a junior with a major in journalism and a minor in public health. She is also a part of UnderSkore, the University of Arizona’s first official K-pop dance team. Her interests include music, anime, video games and pop culture.