Since the middle of August, I have been at home, getting ready for college and saying goodbye to each of my friends as they departed one by one to colleges all across the countries. I will finally leave for Brown on September 2 (thanks for starting so late, Brown), but I don't know if I can make it that long. You see, it's not the fact that my friends are no longer home to hang out or even free to talk, because I still have siblings and underclassmen friends to be with while I'm home. The thing that really frustrates me is seeing an endless stream of Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat posts of my friends living much more exciting lives than me.

No, of course I don't blame them for posting about their new life away from home. The moment I step on campus, I will be doing the same exact thing, probably much more than each of them. I'm more concerned with why I'm so jealous of and frustrated by the videos and pictures I've seen. It's a lesson I've got to teach myself, and everyone else living with social media FOMO.

First, there are dorm pictures. Beautifully decorated walls, neatly made beds with gorgeous comforters and throw pillows, organized desks with picture frames of high school memories. Some pictures posted by proud parents, some by students themselves. As I Facebook stalk all my friends, I sit in my torn-up room with towers of boxes and suitcases around me. I haven't even bought half the things I need, let alone unpacked and decorated yet. And where did they get that nice duvet cover? I want it!

Then, there are party videos. My high school friends surrounded by their new friends or even sorority sisters, dancing, socializing, drinking, singing, and staying up until 3 a.m. Their brand-new college geotags make my hometown geotag seem pathetic. These are the Snapchat stories I watch after I wake up from my 9 hours of sleep on a Sunday morning, after a night of binge watching "Stranger Things" as I get ready to go to church.

Last, there are the new friendships being made. Of course, I am so happy for my friends for being social and friendly in a time of so much chaos, and finding people whom they click with. It's just tough watching this all from a place of sheer loneliness and isolation: my home in New Jersey. Once I get settled in to campus and make my own friends, this will no longer bother me. But seeing my high school friends need me less and less is a scary sight, and makes me super eager to get to campus.

But looking back on all of this, I have to acknowledge the beautifying filter that social media puts on real life, and especially college life. People choose to post pretty sunsets over their college town, fun parties with cute guys, and pictures when their dorm room is the neatest it will ever be. What social media doesn't show? Fights with roommates, late nights in the library, hard classes, boring parties, bad grades, hangovers, social anxiety, exhaustion, insecurities. There is no use in being jealous of what you think is another person's life, because even with your best friends, there is so much going on behind the screen.

So to everyone else who is still desperately waiting for college to begin: take all of your friends' social media profiles with a grain of salt, and be happy with your last few days home: even if you are spending them with your parents.