Living 45 minutes away from home while in college has certainly had its advantages. For example, now that I have my own car, I drive home almost every single weekend. It's what keeps me sane throughout the week, knowing I can escape the "Berea Bubble" and recharge each weekend. But those 45 minutes can feel like a lifetime when you've driven those roads for almost four years straight, three of which were on your own.

I've driven that stretch of Interstate 75 so much now, I find myself reflecting on anything and everything as I drive back and forth. Recently, I took some time off before this semester started and went home for a glorious three whole weeks. See, this semester is my last at Berea. I'm graduating in December and I don't know how many more times I'll make this drive after my friends graduate in the next few semesters. But the drive back to Berea was different this time.

It was then that the reality of how few drives I had left hit me. At the time, I calculated I had 16 drives back and forth as of right now, I have between seven and eight drives left before I'm done with this semester. I used to count down the days and drives until I could come home, but now I'm kind of to the point that I believe I'm going to miss college. Reflecting has become my favorite way to pass time as I'm driving home. Since I've started doing this, I've realized many many things may change after graduation. My friends may move away, I may lose touch with my work colleagues, a million and one things may happen between now and the next year of my life after Berea. But one thing I know, even though my time at Berea has been some of the most frustrating times in my life, I wouldn't change a thing. Without that drive between Corbin and Berea, I never would have realized how thankful I am for the people both here and at home who've supported me and loved me through the past four years.

-BrittanyNicole