What is the definition of Freedom?

Our good friend Webster says freedom is defined as: the quality or state of being free. But what does this even mean? As I sat in my house while my mom waited out in the car I finally realized what freedom means. Not just for me at the age of 24, but for every American citizen all over the World.

Freedom is being given the opportunity to finish school to the highest level, if you so desire. Freedom is being able to have a job, and go home to your families at the end of the day. Freedom is being able to choose the location of where you go home to; be it an apartment, house, dorm, or a room in your family's house. Within that liberty is the freedom to go to the grocery store and cook whatever you want for dinner/supper/lunch/breakfast/or just eat whenever you get hungry. Also the freedom to not have to wear shower shoes. Its the freedom to get into your car and drive wherever you want to go. Its the freedom to wear whatever you want whenever you want to, to sleep in on the weekends, and to have more than one day out of the week where you don't have to report anywhere. Its the feeling that you can soar to the summit of the mountain without knowing that hundreds of other people are going to try to hold you down...instead you have families and friends who cheer you on as you attain your goals. You are not a prisoner. You are free!

I had forgotten. I had thought that freedom was something that didn't apply to me anymore. But now, as I sit on my bunk bed at 0500 in the morning after being back at my camp for 24 hours I realize. No, I know. I am completely aware. This is not permanent. I have approximately 90 days until I leave here. But not just that. I will be leaving here to go home. To go to where I had forgotten I could go. Being at school for the past 5 years made me forget that I am not alone in the world. I have a family who loves me! And, I really just cannot wait to get back to them.