Finals may have been a challenge, but for most of us, the worst is over, and it's time to enjoy winter break. Whether we've traveled for a few minutes or a few hours, most of us have gone home for the holidays. It may seem like a welcome break now, but you never really notice what you miss until it's gone. Here are 12 things I find myself missing about college when I go home on break.

1. Friends

In college, you make friends with people from all across the country, or even all over the world. It can sometimes be hard to keep in touch with them when you're so far away. You get used to seeing them every day, and it's a bit of an adjustment when you don't.

2. Community

One thing I love about Creighton is that we have such a strong sense of community. There's something really comforting about knowing that we're all part of a large Creighton family, where students look out for one another.

3. Campus

While it's nice to be home, I often find that I'm confined to my house when it's snowing outside or the weather is too cold. Over break, I miss being able to walk a short distance from one building to another, where I can hang out by the fireplace with my friends and colleagues.

4. Dining Dollars

Let me just preface this by saying that I never claimed that college food is good. However, it is nice to be able to buy meals and snacks with dining dollars, rather than spending real money. Something tells me that the grocery stores here at home don't take dining dollars....

5. Short Walking Distances

Whether you're on the Creighton campus or walking around Old Market in Omaha, you can pretty much get anywhere you need to go in a timely manner on foot. However, here at home, if I want to get anywhere, I have to drive. As much as I like driving, the ice on the roads really doesn't help.

6. Omaha

In general, I just miss the city of Omaha as a whole. It's a little bigger than my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, with so many interesting places that I have yet to visit. With so many great concert venues and restaurants, it makes Wichita seem almost tame in comparison.

7. Independence

It's nice to be able to spend time with family over break, but I do miss having the independence to do things on my own time. There's something really freeing about being able to go on trips or adventures whenever I feel like it and not be subject to judgment.

8. My Suitemates' Cooking

This one is more specific to me personally. I just thought I'd give a shout-out to my suitemates, who make some really delicious Korean and Chinese food on the weekends. I'm going to miss our weekly cooking and trips to the Asian Market.

9. Campus Activities

I'm really going to miss the assortment of activities put on by the university to entertain students. These really help to accentuate the sense of community on campus and bring people closer together. Plus, they often offer the opportunity to win valuable prizes, like concert tickets or gaming consoles.

10. Clubs and Organizations

I'm not really involved with a lot of clubs or organizations on campus, but those that I do attend regularly have become a staple of my weekly schedule. I usually look forward to meetings as a way to get away from the stress of schoolwork for a little while. I'll miss the both the weekly meetings and the friends I've made there while I'm away.

11. Sleeping Late

Some of you may not have this problem, but usually I can't sleep as late when I'm home as I can if I'm adhering to my own sleep schedule. This also relates to independence, in that I can't always set my own schedules here at home; at least, not to the extent that I can in college.

12. Proximity to People

At home, I can't just walk a few steps down the hallway to find a friend inside whenever I feel like talking. Once again, I'd have to get in my car and drive to see my friends. It's a bit of an adjustment.

While these are the drawbacks to being off campus for about a month, it's always nice to be home and surrounded by family. The holiday season only comes once a year, so it's important to make the most of it while it's here, even if that means leaving college behind for a few weeks.

So, happy holidays everyone! Enjoy your break!