As I am writing this, I am sitting on the floor of my empty room in my first apartment waiting for the carpet cleaners to arrive. I feel like most people would be sad about this.. right? I'm halfway done with what is supposedly the best years of my life.

As I sit in my room right now, though, I am just sad that I have to sit here any longer. My very first apartment does not feel like a place where I can reflect on the memories I had here. Almost all of my fond moments here just include a good book, a warm cup of tea, and being alone in my room.

Everyone gets annoyed with their family sometimes, but after this long year of not having people to come home to made me realize how important family is.

Sure, I had roommates this year, but we either didn't talk or they were never home, so there was no one to ask how my day or my trip was, anyone to help you kill a bug, no one to ask a quick favor of. I take these things for granted at home because these things just happen naturally and they don't seem to special, but even having people to come home and interact with is special.

Mental health wise, this was a very bad year for me. I am a naturally happy person and I don't let things get to me, so I had a very fun year of hanging out with my friends and taking my classes, but when I come home at night is when things start to get bad for me, so I truly believe that having a support system at home is positive for your mental health. This sounds obvious, but so many people are so excited to move out and be independent, but most people still have roommates to go home to and share food with.

Mostly, how I feel about being halfway done with college is excited. I am excited to move into a new house with new people, excited to have a porch at my house, excited to get further into my major, excited to turn 21, and excited for two more years of endless possibilities.