1. Who your true friends from home are
The first year of college it can be tough to keep in touch with your friends from home––everyone at new schools around the country, or even friends still living at home. All the hard work of trying to stay in touch finally pays off that summer when everyone is back home together. But sometimes the people you thought you were good friends with in high school end up becoming total strangers, and even though it can hurt to be left out of parties and hang-outs, true friends are the only friends you want in your life.
2. Who your true friends from school are
The first year of college can be stressful as hell, especially trying to make a whole new group of friends. Everyone is in the same boat, not knowing anyone. Some people get lucky and make a few friends, and some even make a lot. Seeing which friends reach out to you and which friends don’t say a word can be tough, but will show you who your lifelong friends may be. When the summer comes, it’s time to see who you’ll still be friends with in the fall.
3. How much you missed your family
At school, especially in the beginning, you can miss your family like crazy, but toward the end of your second semester you have convinced yourself that maybe you really don’t miss your family. When you finally get home you realize how much you missed a group of people who cares for you so deeply and loves you like crazy, and that maybe you didn’t get that at school.
4. How much you miss college
Most hometowns (especially mine) are extremely boring. The most exciting thing to do is go get food at the local restaurant, which really isn’t even that great, or go to the movies over a half hour away. You miss being in a place where there is always something to do, whether it’s partying or just doing crazy things around the campus. Going from living in a city to living in farm country, life can be kind of boring.
5. How much you don’t miss classes
After a crazy amount of hours studying for that one random class, everyone is ready for a break. Summer means no classes (well for some of us), meaning no reason to stay up until all hours of the night unless you truly want to. College is extremely awesome, except for the classes part.
6. How much you didn’t miss your job
Getting low on money was a downside of being at school, but no one ever truly wants to work. Summer jobs mean working as many hours and days of the week as possible to make as much money as possible for the next year, which can be extremely exhausting.
7. How much you missed home-cooked meals
Your first year of college normally means dorm life, which most likely meant living without a kitchen. This meant eating dining hall food or anything that can be made in a microwave. Being home means fresh meals and the real food you dreamed of while at school. That favorite meal your mom makes is finally a reality.
8. How much you missed having your own room
Freshman year means sharing a room, which definitely has its ups and downs. Being home most likely means having a room to yourself. You finally have the privacy you wanted for that year. You can finally dance around the room like a crazy person and not be judged. You also are finally living in a house without hundreds of other people, meaning overall quietness.
9. How much you miss being surrounded by people
Being home means having to make plans with people who don’t live less than 100 feet from you. When living on campus, everything was only a walk away. Being home means to even get a bite to eat you have to drive down the road. To hang out with friends you have to drive somewhere, when before they lived right across the hall.
