I wrote a few weeks ago about how I really, truly enjoy coming home during summer vacation. And I stand by that decision; however, I (and I think I can speak for most college students) hit that point in the summer, no matter where you are, when you miss the friends you left behind. Living with friends in close proximity can be tiring, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to move back home to my own bed, my own room, my own bathroom… you get the idea. I love having my own space, but I do still find myself walking out of my room to look for a roommate to talk to, only to realize there isn't anyone there. We can still text and chat, but it isn't the same as being able to walk into your friends' room at midnight with a life crisis.

There are just certain things you can do at college, with your college friends, that you can't do at home. Even if you have friends at home that you've known since high school or longer, they weren't there to watch you on your first steps to independent living. The friends I had were nothing if not supportive during that transitional period of my life (and I hope I was able to return the favor), but they weren't physically there to see it. And that does make a strange sort of difference. Just like my college friends don't always understand the stories I tell about fun times in high school because they weren't there, my friends from home didn't experience that first rough night alone, first bad grade on a quiz, or that moment when you realize college isn't really the glamour the movies make it out to be. They can hear about it, but the first person experience really matters.

So as I've hit this almost half-way point of summer vacation, I can't help but miss the friends I left behind that first week of May. It's strange – when I see someone every day it doesn't always occur to me to thank them for their friendship or the fun times we've had together, but even a few weeks apart can make me realize that I should thank them a WHOLE lot more often. I can't wait to resume the fun (and not-so-fun) nights of studying, Netflix, puzzles, concerts, working out, or whatever else we come up with to do. And I can't wait to make new memories doing new things. We're about to be juniors in college! There is a whole new world of opportunities and things to do (and unfortunately some school work and job-hunting/graduate school-hunting to go along with it). Starting the halfway point of my college career, I can truly see growth in myself academically, independently, and socially. And that social growth is entirely thanks to the awesome friends that I have made over the last two years. I look forward to coming back to school in a few weeks, even if it is just to see you all again.