Campfire Talk by Sierra

July 9, 2025

Hi guys. I’m Sierra. I’m a first year on fun squad. I go to Iowa State University, Ames Campus. My favorite color is red and my favorite food is hot dogs.

When someone says anything about home, my first thought used to be a specific place. For me that place was on Gould Road in Eden Prairie. That’s where my mom, my dad, older brother Kyle, and my dog Harper are. Last fall I moved to school and had to leave what I knew as home behind. My parents moved me into my dorm and this dorm was my new home, but at the time it felt nothing like home. I had all my favorite things with me like my grey blanket with angels that I can’t sleep without, but it still wasn’t home.

For the first time in my life, I experienced homesickness.

I had spent time away from home and had gone to several camps growing up, but I had never felt this homesick before.

The whole first semester all I wanted to do was go home to the house that I grew up in. I was only working to go home. I was waking up, going to class, getting my schoolwork done, and going to bed. I missed my mom and dad and realized too late that I should’ve spent more time with them before moving out.

To pass time Between trips home, I watched a lot of shows and movies. I watched all 20 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy in a month with 744 hours. I also picked up a new hobby, I learned how to crotchet. I also started calling my mom a few times a week to try to bring the home feeling back. I would sit in my room watching shows, crocheting and doing my schoolwork, and talking to my mom. I wasn’t living, I was simply functioning. I didn’t feel like I was where I was meant to be.

Finally, it was time to go home for Christmas. I had been looking forward to this month at home since the day I moved into my dorm. I was happy again at home. I got to sleep in my own bed and give my mom as many hugs as I wanted. Then it was time to head back to school. As I was driving I got a call from my roommate Frannie, saying that our classes that were supposed to start the next day were all online due to the weather. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should turn around and have just one more day at home. Frannie assured me that I was going to be okay in Ames and told me how excited she was to see me.

I felt God working through Frannie in this moment. I kept driving toward school but was still unsure of where I was meant to be. I asked God why he would bring me to a place that I didn’t feel like I belonged at.

I started spring semester with a positive mindset, that God had a plan and a reason for me to be there. Frannie convinced me to join a sorority and a few clubs. I met so many new people and friends. This huge school started to get a little smaller. The feeling of home and belonging was starting to come back. I had found my home at school and now I had two homes.

The month of May came and it was time to move out and go back to Eden Prarire. I was so excited to see my family again but sad to lave my new friends. I got to spend three weeks with my family before us staff headed up here.

I thought I was going to have the same problem again. I had to make another new home and get to know a bunch of people. With this many staff I thought I’d be close with 2 or maybe 3 and not have the same sense of home and belonging. In reality I have 16 new best friends. Although I’ve missed my family, I have a home and family here too.

So if you have been feeling a bit homesick this week, know that you are not alone in those feelings, but also know that you will always have a home here at camp.

God always has a reason and a plan for you to be where you are.

I have learned that home can be multiple places. Gould Road. Gray Avenue. Spirit in the Pines.

But most importantly I have learned that home is where you are.

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