As the new school year is fast approaching and fleets of friends are packed and on their way to their respective colleges, we find ourselves in a bit of a whirlwind tying up loose ends and tending to various doctor's appointments, goodbye lunches, and long shopping lists. After experiencing freshman year, it's easy to go in and out of the college mindset once you've gotten things under control. Knowing what to expect in the coming semester is a relief, and all of a sudden, college seems like a breeze (the best breeze). Missing home while you're at school and missing school while you're at home is still a bit of an emotional roller coaster for us college students and our loving families, though it gets easier and easier with time.

We start to forget the little things that once made as cry at the thought of stepping outside of the nest and facing the unknown as we had done the year before. We often forget to look back at our parents and wave as we drive off or send them a text every once in a while. We leave our loved ones in the dark dust of our young adult lives, well, because we're having fun. We're happy. We're young. We're independent. But with that comes the consequence that our families are less involved, less in tune with our day to day activities as we have fully and wholeheartedly embraced our independence. We become even more distant with time as we try to push away the idea that we could quite possibly miss home and be...homesick. Spoiler alert: it's normal! In an ideal scenario, missing home means you've actually had a great home life with awesome parents and siblings who have made you who you are today. It doesn't mean you're unhappy at school, it just means you've enjoyed your childhood in some way. But, as the feeling of homesickness starts to go away, don't forget the little pleasures that make coming home a relaxing experience. The little quirks and memories that surround the place you grew up will fade away with time as you grow older and older, so it's important to keep them close as long as possible. Be appreciative and be grateful as you start to make your way into the adult world.

To celebrate the 2015-2016 school year, here are 15 things to miss from home:

1. The creaks in the floorboards that were never quiet, even when you tiptoed across them as a child.
2. The unwavering excitement in your dog's eyes when they see you on a day to day basis.... actually, just your dogs in general.
3. The smell and taste of home cooked meals.
4. Daily hugs from your mom.
5. The sound your dad makes when he stretches in the morning.
6. The smell of coffee signaling that the first person in the house is awake.
7. A fully stocked fridge.
8. The sound of your mom humming her favorite song.
9. The feeling of your bed engulfing itself around you.
10. A shower that you don't have to fight for and that doesn't require shower shoes or a warning signal for when a random toilet is flushed.
11. Privacy. Simple, legitimate privacy.
12. The way your house smells when you first walk in.
13. The holiday decorations that fill each room from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years.
14. Knowing your friends are nearby, and the familiarity of the streets, houses, and buildings that surround you.
15. The feeling of complete relaxation in a place where you can be yourself through and through.

As cliché as it all might sound, it's too easy to get caught up in the college bubble and to forget the small things that bring a smile to your face. During high school, it seems like college is so far away, and we often forget to look around and appreciate the home that was built around us. So, a nod to the parents for putting their life's work into making a safe place for us to come home to when it seems like all we've done is go, go, go. Before you head off to school, take a seat, look around, and relax because college is a whirlwind of its own, and it's nice to have something to ground you when the going gets tough.