You have (hopefully) finished your last final of the year and begun to have the realization that school is actually over. This realization hits you as you're sitting in a circle, on the floor of your hallmates' dorm room, eating pizza out of the box while every five minutes that one friends whimpers and says, "I'm going to miss everyone so much." Yes, that friend might have been you one too many times; this night, however, it wasn't.

I had readied myself to leave these people that I considered my family and have my (school) work free break, but despite that, I couldn't have prepared for what the next three months actually entailed.

If you're anything like me and my group of friends, you had all been planning the date and time everyone was coming home. And if you are me, you sat at home for a solid week before these dates ever arrived (s/o to Ptribbs). But once everyone is reunited, you're genuinely confused why everyone is going to their respective houses after a night of catching up.

Coming from a hall that had many sleepovers by stealing the couch cushions from the MPR to make beds, you begin to wonder why none of your back home friends are spending the night with you. This small difference makes you miss the constant sleepovers with your roomie, and you wind up spending one too many nights at your BFFs house back home.

There is also the never-ending struggle of having absolutely no one to talk to during the day. I find myself talking to my dogs and telling them about my day even though I am constantly going throughout the week. We lose that continuous open ear and eager smile of our friends and hall mates ready to talk as you walk to the library or dining hall.

To some, this is a peaceful, much-needed rest. Personally, the silence drives me insane and makes me appreciate being surrounded by people 24/7.

The worst of it all, in my opinion of course, is the lack of the unceasing sense of community whether it is walking to the study room at 3 a.m. during finals week and seeing your hall mates sitting around a table, finally coming together again after a long night out and someone screaming they're ordering pizza or even just someone offering to walk to the library with you to pick up printing.

There is something about having that community that makes getting through the tough days a little easier and sailing through the perfect days with a little too much excitement.

Being home is so refreshing, do not get me wrong! There is so much family time, relaxation time, money making time, and just free time. But you and I would both be lying if we said we didn't miss the college dorm atmosphere, having your best friend be two doors down, and the constant reminder you have people there for you.

There are so many things that boiled your blood by the end of the year like feeling as if every member of your hall knocked on your door while you were finishing that final, that devastating episode of Game of Thrones, or hearing trap music at all hours from across the hall.

Once these are taken away you realize how much you relied on it, and even thrived on it. Being away for three months is something that everyone needs, but in the end, being a college student away from college is truly a struggle.