I first started college in 2015 at Keystone College and my major is Early Childhood/Special Education. Keystone is five hours away from home. I was never away from home for more than a week. Starting college and being on my own was a little lonely at first. Since my family doesn't have a car, I was only able to go home on winter break and then summer. It was hard to not see my family as often as I would have liked.

Technology can only go so far to communicate with your loved ones. Personally I don't like using technology to talk to my family. Texting and video chatting can only go so far and you can't save it. It also doesn't work as well when the internet isn't available. To keep in contact with my friends and family back home, I decided to write letters to them. I felt I could tell them everything that was happening at college. I could also keep in contact with them better and if I ever felt sad, all I had to do was reread the letters.

Getting letters made me really happy and it made me realize my family and friends did miss me. I would always check my mailbox at Keystone to find it full of letters. I also love to write letters and it made me happy to read them from the people I cared about the most. My family wrote to me as well as my two best friends. These are a few lines from each of them I really cherished and do even today.

"How are you doing lately? We miss you a lot. Your dad said hi too. I'm glad you have friends, just be careful ok, have fun we love you and miss you. You know I am proud of you and Angel. You both have come a long way in your lives and I love you both so much!"-Love Mom and Dad

"Hope you have fun in college!! Can't wait to see you soon!! We miss and love you very much!! Remember God is always with you and loves you!! Counting the days till you come back!!" Love Angel

"I really miss you! You remind me why I'm here because some days I wonder why I'm here, but then I look at our photos and remember how much faith you have in me. So I march on and continue everyday at college!" Your Bestest Friend-Kim

"You're one of those people that won't give up on your dream and I'm glad your like that. I am also glad you're one of those people that thinks of others before yourself. You're trying to bring good to this world and that's what makes me glad you're my friend." Your Friend-Jamie

Those are the letters I looked forward to reading. I knew they missed me back home but they were glad I was going to college. A lot of those letters made me feel like I was missed and important. Some letters I cried with tears of joy and others I laughed at. If you are a first year college student and you're missing home, always remember no matter how far from home you are, you are missed and loved very much! Miles may separate us but it's what is in the heart that counts!