Don’t get me wrong, we all love going home and seeing our families, eating at our hometown restaurants, and seeing our old neighborhood friends. However, there are definitely things we miss about being away from our college towns. Whether it’s the freedom of being able to come and go as you please or the sanity you feel in having your own space, these small commodities are definitely overlooked while spending time at home.
1. Your own schedule
As the oldest daughter, and “Daddy’s little girl,” I can speak for this when I say that going and coming as you please is nice. We forget that in college we don’t necessarily have someone calling and saying, “When will you be home?” “What are you doing?” “Who are you going with?” and so on. I think I speak for all of the Daddy’s girl’s when I say that being in the groove of college and creating your own schedule without the consent of anyone else is nice.
2. Having your own space
Maybe some of you cherish that California King Bed when you go home instead of the dorm room twin, but speaking for those of us who have let’s just say, more than two siblings, having your own space in college is lavish. Being able to leave things whenever you want and however you want is definitely missed when we go back home on those college breaks. Not to mention if I don’t have the time to make my bed, Mom isn’t there to fret.
3. Atmosphere
The atmosphere of a college town is completely different, especially for those who come from smaller towns. Being in the atmosphere with your favorite sushi place, frozen yogurt place, and your closest network of friends is enjoyable. Sure, your hometown environment is refreshing, but being in your own element away from what you once knew has its perks.
4. There is always something to do and someone to do it with
Regardless if you’re taking on downtown or spending sleepless nights in the library, there is always something to do and someone to do it with. Whether that be concerts, percentage nights at your favorite places or the simple aspect of being able to watch Netflix with all of your friends, the list of things can go on and on. I think I speak for all of my small town people when I say that being in an atmosphere with plenty to do is a pleasant change.
5. Friends are like family
Our friends are the closest things we have to family in our college towns. For those that are further away from home, it feels good to have your friends around you for comfort and support. Whether it be a bad grade on a test, breakup, or strep throat during the year, our friends are like our family. Your college friends are definitely missed over the breaks spent at home.
6. "Adulting" builds character
We have all heard the phrase “I’m adulting today.” Of course, it’s nice to have mom and dad take care of the smaller errands, but becoming self-sufficient is vital in college. There is a sense of pride we take in being able to handle life’s issues on our own. The pressure of schoolwork is enough, but add a sorority, club, or even a sport, and life can become overwhelming. What we tend to forget are the lessons we take with us after handling stressful situations on our own. Parents and relatives helping out with small obstacles should be appreciated, but after spending time out of your college life routine, we notice just how independent we have become. This friends, is a wonderful thing.
Going home is nice and being around family is an absolute blessing, but let’s be real, we all miss being in the groove of the college life after spending a specific amount of time at home. With summer coming to an end in just a short amount of time, we can all relate to feeling ready for the fall semester to kick back off again. College is full of both fun and stress, but if you’re anything like me and have fallen in love with your college town, a home away from home is the perfect phrase to describe it. Feeling eager to return “home” is an understatement.
