Tomorrow marks the beginning of my fourth week at college. Though I love my school and I’ve learned more in the last three weeks than I learned at high school in one semester, there are definitely some things about home I really took for granted. So, if you’re a high school senior, this one is for you: here’s what you should take the time to be grateful for during your last year at home.

1. The food.

I would drive nineteen hours to my home in Florida just to eat one of my mom’s steak dinners. No joke. I went out for lunch with some friends this past Saturday, had a delicious burger, and have since then had a hard time accepting dining hall food. It’s not that college food is bad, per se, it’s just that you probably won’t crave the meat of the day like you crave your mom’s homemade mashed potatoes. If your mom or dad cooks for you, take a moment to say thank you for every single meal, and definitely ask them to teach you a thing or two about how to prepare your favorite meals so you can cook for yourself when you’re out of the house.

2. Your pets.

My college campus is a hotspot for walking dogs, and every time I see a dog I cry a little inside. I miss my dog and cats more than I ever thought possible. My roommate came home from a trip to Rochester with a Beta fish because we were just so pet deprived. Give your dog, cat, fish, snake, or rabbit an extra snuggle every day before you leave for college next year. Take lots of pictures of them, too.

3. Free time.

I know, I know. “Maddie, I’m a senior. There’s literally no way for me to be busier in college than I already am in high school.” Yeah, I used to say that, too. Buckle up.

In all seriousness, I brought three game systems with me to college and I haven’t touched any of them since moving in. Playing video games has always been a way for me to relax and unwind, but I have a lot more important things to do here. That’s not to say I never relax — I just relax by doing more productive things like cleaning, laundry, or eating with friends. I’m sure I’ll curl back up with Legend of Zelda when fall break comes around, but I just don’t have the time to play most weekends like I did in high school.

4. High school teachers.

Here’s the thing: college professors will treat you like adults, because you are adults. Plain and simple. There are good things to this — such as the fact that college professors are usually quite friendly and more open to joking around — but also bad sides. College professors won’t hold your hand. They might not remind you of the homework every class: it’s your job to look at the syllabus. They also might not tell you what’s going to be on a test or quiz: it’s your job to study. You may think your high school teachers are unfair, and that’s fine, but when you get to college it’s not a matter of fairness or unfairness. If you make a mistake, you have to accept it, not blame it on your teacher or your parents. That’s the price of being an adult.

5. Missing school.

If you miss a day or two of class in high school, it might take a week to make up your work and catch up in classes and clubs, but your mom can write you a note to excuse the absence and you’re good. In college, there’s no one to write a note for you. Some teachers won’t even take doctor’s notes. You just get an unexcused absence, and your attendance grade drops by a certain percentage. I’m currently enrolled in a class where I literally cannot miss a single meeting or else I have to retake the course next semester — no exceptions. So if you have a problem with sleeping through alarms, take the time now in high school to clean up your act. You’ll be glad that you did.

College is amazing. You’ll learn more than you ever thought you could just in the first week, but that doesn’t mean you should wish high school and home away with all your might. Keep your eyes on the horizon but your head and heart in the game. There are a lot of things you’ll miss when you’re gone, so it’s important to make the most of them now while you still can.