Everyone talks about how the first summer home from college is the hardest. You go from having absolute freedom of no curfews, no parents to tell you "yes" or "no," and that dreaded no privacy. Coming home was certainly an adjustment, things change around the house when you are not home for a while, and you cannot just expect everything to go back to the way it was when you arrive. However, I feel that the first year back to college will be the hardest for me, as I will really miss the things I used to take for granted.
1. My cute, yet annoying, dog
My dog is by far one of the things I didn't realize I would miss so much. I had a pet fish I was so excited about bringing to college with me, but once he died this summer I realized I had been really taking for granted the one little pupper who has been by my side for almost ten years. I can only wonder if she will look for me in my room when I leave this August.
2. Having a car
I have not saved up enough money yet to buy my own car. My parents have generously let me use the one my little sister also uses to get around town. While there have been squabbles over gas and who gets the car and when, once I'm back at college I am going to be stuck there. I do not have a car, and so if I want to go somewhere I am going to have to figure out how to get there myself rather than just asking my parents to borrow one.
3. A comfortable bed
Residence Halls have the worst beds. They are not always that bad, but they are still pretty bad. I had grown so used to it over the past two semesters that when I came home I actually had to adjust back to what it was like to have a mattress that did not feel like a rock. Now I get amazing sleep at night, but when I return to college, it is going to be an adjustment.
4. Not sweating off five pounds a day
Air Conditioning is something I did not realize could be missed so intensely. When I came home for the summer the first argument my mom an I had was over when she would be turning on the A/C for the summer. (I won, it was the very next week.) Heading back, I will not be fortunate enough to have A/C in my Res Hall again. I will make do as I did last year, but it is going to take a few fans, and maybe some ice water to keep me from becoming dehydrated just from sitting in my room and watching TV.
5. My momma's cooking
I was the worlds pickiest eater before I left for college, but after having a salad every day for lunch, and a burger or pasta for dinner, food became bland tasting very quickly. The food at my school is good, do not get me wrong, but I was way too lazy to walk to a dining hall some nights or make something other than Ramen Noodles. When I came home this summer, I did not really care what I was having for dinner. As long as it was not from the cafe at school, I was absolutely fine. Thinking about going back to that food makes me a little wary, but I know I will be fine. This time, I'll be sure to take leftovers from now on.
6. Functioning wi-fi
College campuses are huge. Supplying free wifi to all of their students can be very challenging, I get that, however, I never realized how much slower the wifi was until I came home. I did not have to wait a few seconds for my Netflix show to start, or for the website page to load. It was instant. Going back to college will be difficult because I am going to have to learn another lesson in patience.
7. Closet space
I am no queen of fashion, but I do own a lot of T-shirts. It is basically all I wear. College is a game of figuring out how much clothes you can fit into the worlds smallest dresser. I made the mistake of bringing basically my whole wardrobe this past year, and this year I will be lucky enough to know not to do that. Being home though, I do not have to worry about where the new clothes I just bought is going to go because I have an actual closet and dresser.
8. People around, even when you don't want them around
The loneliest I ever felt was being alone in my room. My second semester of college I did not have a roommate. Most people would think this is really nice, and it was. However, there are times where it got lonely. I found a joke on my phone and wanted to show it to someone or I just wanted someone in person to rant to. At home, I've got my whole family right outside my door to go annoy the crap out of. It just so happens they can annoy the crap out of me too, which is why sometimes a Res Hall can be better.
9. All of my local friends
Coming home from college is a test to see if you can balance your summer job, new friends, new commitments, and your old friends from work and school. Going back to college is that time limit you have to see everyone, and if you don't, you are stuck not seeing them until you have a break at the same time as them. I know there are friends I will never end up seeing until next summer again, and it saddens me, but we still keep in touch.
10. No really, my family
Cheesy, I know. But it is true. I did not realize how much I depended on them for things. Being in college was an adjustment emotionally because I did not always have my support system right there with me. No matter how much we fight I know they will always be there for me. Sometimes in college, it does not feel like that because they are miles away. I miss having them around and there always being some sort of noise in the house. Sometimes Res Halls can be deadly silent, and it can get very lonely just in that silence. my family just keeps me sane, that is all.
Never take anything for granted, count your blessings, and always say "I love you" to the people you love.
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