Another year, another summer vacation at home winds down. As the move-in date looms closer and closer, you naturally start to wonder what dorm necessities need to be brought back, replaced, or left behind. There are lists galore, everything from clothes to shoes to keepsakes to snack options are accounted for either mentally or physically.

Then the final thought hits you: you’re going to leave home again to embark on your second college year.

This thought isn’t new. It had only been a year ago since that thought first sprouted into your head. With it, came nerves, apprehension, and just the right dose of nostalgia as you looked back on your life at home before college. You were so unsure back then. Even if it was only a year ago, you seemed like a different person- how exactly would your life be like away from everyone you’ve ever known?

Now you know the answer: your life will be just fine.

Leaving home a second time still brings a touch of sadness here and there (because, after all, your family is your family and home has its feel to it), but that is quickly replaced by something that you didn’t have the first time: knowledge.

As you climb into that packed car and look back at your house as it slowly gets further and further away, you know that you’ll be back. You know when your holiday breaks are. You know that you can seek refuge if life ever gives you too much grief. As you turn around at your accompanying family, you know that they’ll visit when they can. You know that they will pick you up if you need some time away. This is something that you just couldn’t seem to focus on during the first leave.

As you arrive back on campus, your knowledge only grows. You know how dorm life is. You know when and where to get necessities. You know the rules, the ins-and-outs, and the dangers and safeties of your second home. You know what helps you get organized best as well as how to handle classes. You know about resources and clubs and the like.

You know that the friends you’ve made during that first year will be there and those that won’t weren’t real friends. You know that the organizations you joined will be up and running in no time and that events will pick up and be open for participation. You know that you will be okay.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you’ll know everything. There are still uncertainties that come with the new school year like job hunting, internship plans, and new classes. Will you truly be back spending summer at home or will internships take over from then on? Can you find a job that can accommodate your schedule? Can you handle any of that? However, if you think about it, these things were expected to arrive. You knew they’d be discussed eventually.

Yes, you’ll be leaving home again and yes, you’ll certainly miss your family, pets, and hometown friends, but you’ll soon look out the window of your dorm room and realize that you’ve missed campus too. You haven’t necessarily said goodbye to home, just “see you later.”