Almost every college kid goes through a small period when they are homesick -- when you've been away from your home for some time and you start to miss it. It doesn't just have to be your physical home; it can be the people that feel like home, like parents, siblings, or pets.

Before my sister and I were born, my parents knew right off the bat that they wanted to have a very open relationship with their kids. Thankfully, they followed through with this goal. My family is the most important thing to me but that all has to do with this open relationship and the welcoming environment my parents created for my sister and me. Considering the fact that even when I lived at home I would still call my mom at least three times a day while she was at work, I knew I would definitely face homesickness. But I am also a pretty independent person so I didn't think my homesickness would be that bad. And it isn't. If you think a "but" is coming, then you're right. Usually, bad things happen in life. That's how life is but typically the bad things are spread out and sprinkled throughout the year. College is so different. In college, everything bad happens at once. You could have strep, a test, and have your boyfriend break up with you all in the same day. Everything is dramatized in college. It's the first time you are truly living on your own so everything feels heightened. That is why feeling homesick is so much worse in college. Not only are you homesick but you've got three tests and a cold. Then, you just find yourself silently crying in your dorm room thinking about every little inconvenience that has ever happened to you while your roommate is in the bed over watching Netflix.

I am somewhat lucky because I attend college in the same state that I have lived in my whole life so my house is just a (6-hour) car ride away. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to just drive home. I am jealous of the many people at my university who can. The best way to get through it is to just remain positive, call your parents, and think about how happy you will be when that next break comes. Being homesick is probably one of the worst feelings but don't let it bring you down because then you can end up missing out on some amazing opportunities that college has to offer. Also, don't be afraid to talk about it with your friends. That is what they are there for; they are there to help you get through the tough times and be a shoulder to lean on when you need it most. Everyone gets homesick at some point so do not feel like you are the only one. It feels awful but don't let it ruin your college experience because college is what you make of it.