With the summer drawing to a close, it only seemed fitting that I write an article on all the things I am going to miss when I go back. Not only me, possibly every other college student that will be heading back or even just starting for the first time. College is an amazing experience, and throughout the year there will definitely be things you're gong to miss when you go home because college is about learning and experiencing new things. Even though we get to experience the independence and new foods and new friends, there will always be a part of us that is going to miss home.
1. Your Bed
Home is where the Netflix and bed are. The college beds aren't always the comfiest but they do what they need too for the year. The thing is though, that most college bed are bunked and if you get the top bunk it's not as close to the TV anymore. Your bed becomes your best friend/significant other during the summer. But at the end of the next four or five summers, you become the reason for the break up every time.
2. Your Pets
Unless it's in a tank you can't take it with you to college. I asked if I kept my cat in a tank, if I could take it? They said no. So it's always hard leaving my kitten, Lily, and for many others their dogs and cats have become their best friends. It's almost as bad as leaving your siblings, we're just a little more heartbroken.
3. Home-Cooked Meals
There's nothing I love more in this world then my grandma's home-cooked meals. College can have some pretty amazing food sometimes, but nothing can compare to your mom or grandma's homemade noodles and mashed potatoes.
4. Endless Wi-Fi Connection
Being back home for the summer, that means you're back to your family Wi-Fi again. One of the worst things about going back to school is that the Wi-Fi is the sketchiest thing ever because 2,702,650,812,765 people on it at one time. Be prepared to use some data.
5. Your Siblings
Even though they're probably not as cool as your pets, they still mean a lot to you because they're the ones you have grown up with. You may fight a lot and are probably completely different people but you know deep, deep, deep, deep down you love them with all of your heart.
6. Your Own Shower
In college they recommend that you take shower shoes because of the shared dorm bathrooms. (Take the shoes! You will need them.) However, after awhile, it can become pretty annoying walking around in squeaky wet flip flops. At home, I don't ever wear shower shoes, I just take my shower without the worry of what's getting on my feet. I hate wearing those shoes, so I really begin to miss my shower when I get to school.
7. Parents/Parent/Guardian
Depending on who you stayed with or lived with during the summer, that's probably who you are going to miss the most in the coming school year. For most kids, it's probably their parents but for me it was just my dad and my grandma. No matter who it is though, or no matter the title, it's still going to be really hard saying goodbye. Even if they can be a little overbearing at times.
8. Free Textbooks
If there is one thing I miss from high school more than anything else in the world, it is the free textbooks. When the only thing you had to buy was the book cover. Now you cry as you're filling up your amazon cart for a semester of 18 credit hours. "Back in the good ole days when books were free."
9. Those "Few" Friends
After high school ended and we all said our goodbyes, we began to realize that we didn't have as many true friends as we thought we did. That group of 20 or so people you could name off as your friends, slowly dwindled down into three or four. But that's OK, having a small group of friends you can trust is a lot better than 20 friends you hardly know at all.
10. The Downtime
In the summer, for most of us anyways, we don't have to worry about homework and exams during the summer. So there is that extra bit of time where the stress of school seems to leave us for a little while. Even though there are some pretty stress free moments in college, it just seems like you get more of a break when you're home.
11. Your Summer Job
Even though there have probably been days where you wanted to quit, it did get you a little upset when you had to put your two weeks notice in, especially if you don't have another job lined up at school yet or you just really loved the people you worked with. Either way that summer job did mean something to you and you will miss it eventually, for whatever the reason may be.
