There is always something so exciting about the hours spent in the car on the way home for a weekend. Home cooked meals, your own bed, and showering without sandals are just a few things people look forward to about home. Being away at college puts many stresses on a college student -- from classes, relationships, bills and loans to pay, to the anxiousness upperclassmen feel when they are about to have to make it on their own in the real world. Because of this, it's nice to spend a day or two at home every once in a while.
What I've come to notice about my life within the past year is that I am very independent when it comes to certain things in my life, but I could not go without a support system. When everything crashes and falls, I won't make it unless someone is there to encourage me to take control of the situation. Sometimes I feel helpless when I do poorly on an exam, over-schedule myself, or even just miss a few hours of sleep at night. And when all of that tries to break me, the first people I call for help are my parents.
I've always been a family kid and love nothing more than holidays spent at Grandma's and trips to the lake and beach with my family and close family friends. Any family BBQ during the summer? You name it and I'm taking off work. So when I got to college and began to have even a stronger relationship with my parents, 130 miles away, I was so confused.
They were there for me when I was five years old and fell at recess, and Harry Potter glow in the dark bandages were the only thing that could make me feel better. They were there for me when I went through the hard times of middle school and trying to find my place. They were there for me when I had to make the decision to quit one of my sports. They were there for me when I had my first day of high school. They were there for me when I had to take my permit test (six times -- laugh all you want). They were there for me when I cheered my first Friday night football game. They were there for me at graduation when I cried because I was scared to leave everyone and everything behind. They were there for me on move-in day when I was more nervous, than ever before in my life, about being away at school with over 35,000 other people. And most importantly, they are still there for me whenever I need to give them a call (or need money transferred into my bank account). I could not get myself through school without being able to talk to them every day. They make me laugh on days it's hard to crack a smile, and I am so thankful for every moment I get to spend with them.
Being away at college has strengthened my relationship with my parents because I fully realize how much they mean to me, and how much I value their presence in my life. The absolute best part about getting to come home for a weekend is getting to give them a hug and spend quality time together. I love them so much and I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me to get an education at a university. I know when I come back home this summer, it will be as if I never left -- but even better.
