Soon after college begins, every college student realizes that they took advantage of a lot of things back in high school. So, current high school students, especially seniors, please don't make the same silly mistake!

1. Home-cooked meals

I'm sure you've heard this one before, but many high school students just don't realize how amazing their mom's spaghetti and meatballs really are. The options at the cafeteria might not seem so bad the first few days, but pretty soon it's all downhill. I'm starting to think it's just not possible to mass produce any food and make it taste good.

2. Your own shower and bathroom

Here is a brief summary of a college shower experience: I wrap myself in a towel, put on my shower shoes, pick up my shower caddy, and head to the communal bathroom. I then proceed to shower in my shoes, all the while making sure my tiny curtain stays shut. Once I'm done, I attempt to dry off in the little shower, again trying to keep my tiny curtain shut to avoid exposing myself to the rest of the bathroom. Still partially dripping, I gather my shampoo and conditioner in my shower caddy, and traipse back across the hall to my room. As you can see, not a very relaxing experience. Most high school students realize they'll need shower shoes and a caddy, but until you experience how frustrating it actually is not to leave your soap in the shower and dry off as you please, it's hard to truly understand. What I'd give to take long, hot showers (without shoes on) singing at the top of my lungs again.

3. Your nice laundry

Whether your mom does laundry for you, or even if you do it for yourself, there is just something better about laundry done at home. Maybe it's the fact that the dryers at school often break. Maybe it's the fact that we have to pay a dollar for each load. Maybe it's the fact that if you don't remove your clothes from the washing machine within 35 seconds of it being done, someone will throw them on top of the dirty machines forcing you to rewash (and repay) them. The list goes on, trust me.

4. Your privacy

Privacy is virtually nonexistent in college, at least for the first year or two when you live in traditional dorms. The bathrooms are communal, the showers are communal, virtually everything except your room is communal. However, the walls are paper thin and your average-volume phone call can probably be heard in the rooms next to you. Not to mention, you probably have a roommate, so the rooms aren't exactly private anyway. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed my privacy until I didn't have much at all, and getting it in college isn't always the easiest thing to do.

5. The comfort of your family

As a high school student, I would spend multiple days in a row at friends' houses without batting an eye. I knew my parents were a short walk or drive away, and I saw them just about every day. It may sound sappy, but when you go to college, no matter if your parents get on your nerves sometimes, you're going to miss them a whole lot. It's a big adjustment to realize you can't just see your parents whenever you want or need to. Making appointments, cleaning, cooking to avoid the cafeteria ... it's all on you now.

So, please, all I ask of you current high school seniors is to try not to take advantage of these things. You have about 5 months left of them until you're off to college, too, and trust me, you'll be glad you didn't disregard them.