Get Used to It

This film was inspired by my emotions towards leaving my hometown, which have sat with me since I first left for Tampa back in January 2023. My entire childhood was spent in a suburban town in New Jersey. I lived with woods behind my home; I woke up to birds chirping and fell asleep to frogs croaking. Being stuck in the same place with the same people, I always yearned for a blank slate. I finally got that chance when I left the comfort of my home to attend university in a city that is a 17 hour drive away from the only place I had ever known. My very first day of class, I suddenly watched myself fall to pieces. I couldn’t stop asking myself, “What have I done?” It was then that I realized my curiosity and hope for a fresh start had led me too far, and there was nothing I could do about it. Obviously, I have settled into my new life, but still, I find myself mourning the fact that I’ll never return to my hometown as the girl I was before I left. It's a feeling we'll all have to face, as we inevitably leave behind the places that mean everything to us. It's a prophecy of sorts. I'm happy to say I was able to find beauty in having a new place to call home, but I have to admit, I'll never get used to waking up to the horrific horns of cars rather than birdsongs.