When I was in grade school, summer could never come fast enough. Now that I go to college, summer break is such a drag. Longwood University is not just my school, it's my home. I miss avoiding rotundas and stomping on crowns. I miss smiling as I look out of my dorm room window because of Longwood's natural beauty. I miss only having to walk 10 minutes across campus to visit my best friend. Now we are an hour away from each other without traffic. The view outside my window is an over familiar suburban cul-de-sac, and nobody takes LancerCash.

Some of my best memories reside in the bottom of the Stu where I was supposed to be studying, but Rachel and I couldn't help look up from our literature and recite our favorite passages. This is the place where we've made life decisions, had a few mental breakdowns, and laughed until we couldn't breathe. We've crammed for exams, sorted out the puzzles that represent our lives, and played countless rounds of ping pong.

I even miss D Hall. I miss the traditional six o'clock dinner with fifteen of my closest friends where we would spend more than an hour just sitting around talking nonsense and going around the table roasting each other. The food was never the best but the company always was.

Surprisingly, I miss going to class every morning: taking in the beautiful campus with a cup of coffee in my hand.

Oh, man, the coffee. I miss Farmville coffee. Going to Uptown Coffee Cafe early on Sunday mornings for a hot peppermint mocha was always something to look forward to. Then there's the occasional late night coffee runs to Java City for an extra couple hours of cramming.

Java City holds a lot of memories too. Meeting up there after morning classes with Rachel and Eva to catch up on readings and study for what ever quiz we weren't prepared for. I miss waiting for the boys to get out of Spanish class and rant about how the quiz was not what they expected. Then taking a break to go get Outta Here and meet up with more friends on Brock Commons for lunch. We'd soak up the sun and run away from the bees.

I miss the routine and the spontaneity of going to school. I miss the relationships and the adventures I have with my friends. When I first saw Longwood University I thought, "Man, I could really see myself here." Now it's so much more than that. I love my school not only because I'm getting the best education, but also because I feel like I can live and experience life as it is meant to be. Woodbridge may be my origin, but Longwood is my identity.