When choosing a college to attend while in high school, I knew picking a university close to home would be the way to go. Although home is less than 70 miles away from my school, there are many aspects I miss while being away. Growing up, we were all in a rush to be on our own and gain independence from our parents. Little did we know, living away at school would be a difficult adjustment, between meeting hundreds of new people and living in a different environment. From living away at school, I have become more appreciative of my family and what I leave at home.

1. Food

Home-cooked meals. When you're at school, you complain to your parents about the poor quality of the on campus dining facilities. You look forward to planning trips home because that means mom's mashed potatoes, or her mocha-chocolate fudge cake. Holidays are always a good excuse to have homemade food; you learn to appreciate all of those sit down meals your parents made you attend.

At school, you have "Sunday Dinner" with your friends, and attempt to make it as delicious as home. Being home means free meals; you don't have to worry about spending money on food. After all, we're all broke college students, right?

2. Dogs

After a long day, it's always comforting to be greeted by your animals when you walk in the door. On the rainy afternoons, no one compares to the cuddles your furry friend is willing to give. When you're sad or upset, your animals are always there to cheer you up; they're one of your favorite things in the world. Going to bed alone just doesn't feel the same when you're away from home.

3. My bed

There's nothing like trying to sprawl out after a long day and realize you're not laying in your queen size bed at home. The blankets are different, the atmosphere is different. Your college bed doesn't compare to your bed at home.

4. Clean bathroom

In my experience so far at college, I can definitely say that using other people's bathrooms can be scarring. At the top of the list would be sports houses, secondly fraternity houses and, lastly, freshman dorms. When away at school, you begin to miss the cleanliness and organization of your bathroom(s) at home.

5. Friends

You grow up going to school with the same people your whole life. When you come to college, you're surrounded by unfamiliar faces and people who don't know a thing about you. You're aware that when you come home for breaks, you'll be spending a majority of your time with your friends from home. You appreciate the fact that your friends from home still stay in touch even with their busy lives, and you look forward to introducing them to your friends from college.

6. Laundry

When you're in college, you truly learn what it's like to improvise. Sometimes you go to grab your favorite pair of leggings and realize their still dirty in the bottom of your hamper. Between late night study sessions and putting in work hours, laundry is not on the top of your to-do list. Doing your laundry implies that you're entering the "grown up world" and that's a little fearful itself. You hold onto your spare change knowing you have to pay for the washers and dryers, did I mention that we're all poor college students? Whenever you come home, your mom sympathizes for you and throws your laundry in the washer to make your life simpler.

7. Familiarity

By your senior year at college, you learn all of the local attractions and best restaurants in town. You figure out where the closest grocery store is in relation to your dorm/apartment/house. All of your driving is done through navigation; you would get lost for hours without it. When you come home, you seem disoriented; you have to think twice before driving to somewhere that was once like driving on auto-pilot.

8. Family

Your family has supported and watched you grow your entire life. In your family, you feel like you can be yourself and have confidence that there are people who love and care about you. They're the ones who know you better than you know yourself.

College can be a confusing place, where you learn a lot about the real world. You don't always have someone to buy you a case of water, or make sure you have toilet paper. Home is where my family is and a piece of me will always be there.