I decided to go to a school that was about 1,000 miles away from home, and it was the best decision I've ever made. A lot of people from my hometown doubted that I would be able to be so far, saying I relied on my mom and family for too much. After being in college for three years, I hope I finally proved them all wrong.

There's a lot of reasons why going far from home for college is a great decision. One of them is that I've learned to appreciate the holidays that I get to spend with my family. My family has never done anything crazy for holidays; we don't have any big traditions or anything like that. But, I can honestly say I've never been more excited for the holiday season. No, not because I'm a broke college student who hasn't had a real home-cooked meal in months, and not because I'm excited to sit around and do absolutely no school work for a month. I'm just excited to spend time with my family.

I've never loved the holidays. It's always stressful and chaotic and hopes for "the best Christmas ever" are always way too high. Even this year, I'm not expecting a Christmas where everything is perfect, because let's be honest, that just wouldn't be a fun Christmas. You don't remember the perfect Christmas or presents. You remember what the funniest thing was, who got too drunk, who peed their pants from laughing so hard and the best dinner conversation. That's what I'm most excited for- the memories. Because one day, my sisters and I will all be living apart with families of our own, and we'll get together for the holidays and be able to share those memories while also making new ones.

So whether you're traveling home for the holidays, or you're traveling to a different relative's house for the holidays, remember what this season is truly all about. Family and loved ones.

Happy Holidays, y'all!