Mom and dad, if you’re reading this, I hope you realize how thankful I am to have you two as my parents. You have raised me to believe in and stick up for myself, but also have a gentle heart when it comes to others. Words cannot explain how much I miss you. This is a poem about how my life away from you has been.

I have my own job,

I make my own food,

I can drive a car,

I get myself to school,

I manage my money,

and buy my own things.

I have my own place,

I even go to meetings!

But because of this job,

I couldn’t go home for Thanksgiving,

I barely see my family;

It’s like I miss everything.

A new cousin was born,

My brother got a job - his first,

The only way I know how these two are doing

is over social media pictures.

Microwaveable noodles and fast food

are usually what I eat;

It’s all I can afford

and I always feel so tired, so beat.

I have a new freedom,

I am independent and strong…

But the stress level has increased tremendously

And I’m always doing something wrong.

I have been living three hours from my hometown and attending college for about two years now. I love where I go to school and I love my roommate, and I met the love my life thanks to this move… But something always seems to feel missing, especially recently. I have a long way to go before I am 100% in the real world, I know that, but I have gotten a taste of the adult life and I can now see how naive I was when this was something I was head over heels excited for.