My first year of college is coming to close, and I honestly don’t know how it went by so fast. Each day of classes dragged on, but the weeks and months flew by. Saying goodbye is bittersweet, but in just a few short months I’ll be back in school for the start of my sophomore year.

Just over 8 months ago, I moved into my freshman dorm room. I can remember exactly how I felt that day. I was nervous, excited, terrified and optimistic. Before moving in, I was told I would be living in an all-girls dorm, which is also the oldest dorm on campus. For someone who requested co-ed, I was fuming when I was told this. But my feelings toward the dreaded walk up those three flights of stairs have changed. Now I walk (mostly crawl), up those three flights of stairs and into a hall with so many of my friends. I wouldn’t trade the chipping paint, broken door knobs, semi-annual working AC system and paper-thin walls for anything. I’ll miss the atmosphere of my freshman dorming experience, but I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss living in the oldest dorm on campus.

As each day of freshman orientation dragged on, I wanted it all to end. I wanted to start classes and begin my life as a college student. Little did I know, those first few days of orientation were necessary for me to adjust. I still didn’t understand my meal plan or how to get from one end of campus to another.

Freshman year is a whirlwind. It means new people, a new environment, new classes and new experiences. I learned a lot about myself this year, because of the new people I met and the new experiences I had. It’s hard to go back home for the summer and pretend I’m the same person I was 8 months ago, because I'm not.

It’s been 5 months since I have been home. I didn’t think I could go that long without seeing my family and friends. But, because I found my second home here at Elon, it was possible. I love my life here, but sometimes I do miss home. I miss my spacious bedroom, the short walk to the kitchen and not having to do my own laundry.

I'm looking forward to going home for summer break. But, as much as I'm excited for the more slow-paced, school-work-free few months of summer, I think I’ll miss my life here, and my friends here, more than anything else. As I count down the days to summer break, I am also counting down the days until I start school again next August.

Goodbye Freshman year. As much as I don’t want to let you go, I have to.

Summer, I look forward to seeing what you have in store.