College is supposed to be the time of your life, and so far I'm enjoying the experience. But every once in a while I start to miss a certain place, home. I'm originally from Texas but I went away to college in Maryland. I went far, far away. I was never too afraid to go away for college because I was confident that my parents raised me right, and that I would be OK to start being a little independent. As a first-year I would explain to my friends about how I wasn't really home sick, even though home was so far away. But over the course of my first year at college I went back home four times. But this year, as a sophomore, I’ve only gone home two times during the first semester, and I haven’t been home at all during the second semester. So I’m definitely missing home right now, more than I’ve ever missed it. There are many people, places, and things at home that I miss but there are a few that I miss more than anything else.

My parents. They're my rock and without them I obviously wouldn’t even be at college. They're not here to hold my hand every step of the way, which is good because I’m growing up, but it’s sad when I get sick and I just want to sleep in my bed at home and be with my parents. My parents have always been my biggest supporters and helped me out when I’m stressed, but I’ve had to learn how to mange my stress when it’s 2 a.m. and all I want to do is cry from my work overload (plus a little bit of procrastination).

I haven’t seen my parents or friends since January, and although that was only three months ago, I’m still not seeing them for a little over a month to go. In a little over a month I’ll be able to see my friends from home that always know how to make me laugh. I’ve made incredible friends and even best friends at college, but I find myself coming across something that reminds me of an inside joke with my friends from back home but I’m not in person to laugh with them. Texting and FaceTime is barely satisfying after awhile, so going home in May is going to be a fun time with my friends. The only sad part is that in three short months I’m going to be leaving again, and this cycle starts all over. I know that college is a time where you go off to find yourself and the field that you want to be in, but sometimes I want to be back at home having movie nights at my mom’s house, watching TV in the morning at my dad’s house, and spending fun afternoons around town with my friends. Home is irreplaceable and I’m excited to get back to my Texan ways for a few months. The thought of Whataburger and breakfast tacos makes me more excited to get back to the Lone Star State, but the thought of the summer heat makes me rethink all of this!