When you're away at college, there are a lot of things you miss. Home-cooked meals, family trips, siblings, friends, but most importantly, your dog. My dog is an eight-year-old Anatolian Shepard, Great Pyrenees mix. So basically, she's a mutt.

But she's the best mutt I've ever had. From the day we got her to the day I left for college, I always knew she'd be right there with me on any adventure I took. Once she was old enough to be out of her kennel at night she'd follow me up the stairs and take a huge leap onto my bed. That huge leap quickly turned into a tiny jump for her since both her parents were big dogs.

I got her when I was 11 years old. Since I was so young, and she was my dog, I had to come up with a name. She has an orange color to her, so of course, since I love Halloween and fall time, I named her Pumpkin. My family thought that was an odd name and were not happy that they would be heard yelling "Pumpkin, come here" when she was outside, but I thought it fit perfectly. She's been a great guard dog for us, and she has been known to bark at any sound that isn't made from us. That's a lot of sounds since we live on a mountain in the woods...

I was always excited to come home from high school because I knew she'd be rushing out the door barking just to see me. I thought I'd be okay to go to college, but I wasn't fully prepared to leave. I didn't quite realize just how sad I would become after I left for college. I missed opening the door to have her greet me with licks and tail wags. I missed her sleeping on my bed with me and cuddling all night. I missed knowing she'd guard the house, and the whole family, but if anyone came too close to me, she'd growl and bark and run to me to make sure I was okay.

I didn't realize how sad I would be when I had my car packed with everything for my new adventure, but she wasn't coming with me. I didn't expect the amount of overwhelming sadness that rushed over me like a tidal wave when I was pulling out of my driveway and I looked in my rearview mirror to see her face looking out the front window, wondering when I'd be back. I told myself I'd be okay, and that she would be too, but I wasn't. I missed my dog.

I hadn't realized how sad I would be to leave her behind, but I also hadn't realized how happy I would be when I pulled into my driveway for Thanksgiving Break and I saw that familiar face running through the door barking to see me. Every time my parents would call me leading up to break, my first question would always be "How's Pumpkin? Is she okay? Is she happy?" When I saw her run through the door, I dropped everything just to give her the biggest hug. The smile on her face and mine were matching, and her tail was wagging faster than I'd ever seen it wag.

Coming home from college for a break is great because I know I get time away to catch up on lost sleep, and to see friends and family again. But, coming home is made ten times better when I get to pull into my driveway and know that she'll be waiting by the door to run out and greet me like she used to. Missing your dog at school is the worst feeling, but coming home and knowing they'll be right there waiting, with kisses and tail wags, ready to go on another adventure is one feeling that can never be replaced.