It is that time if the summer, yet again when shopping for school supplies becomes the first thing listed on the "To Do" list and your room looks like a tornado ran through it from packing up your clothes. Going back to school is the greatest thing to come for some people, but for me, it is the opposite. No matter how much I prepare myself for the return back to school, it never gets easier.

Even though I am only an hour and forty-five minutes away, being away from my family and friends is not fun. Granted I have my best friend and some of the other greatest people in my life down in Normal, but the comfort and love I get from the people back home will always top that. I have always been the child with MAJOR separation anxiety but I like to think its because the thought of living without the best people daily is hard to accept.

At the beginning of the summer, I was happy to be home and overjoyed to be back with my favorite people. However, once the middle of the summer hit, I was starting to dread being home and I needed to go back to school. I think it was because life was slow, there was not much to do other than work and be at home, so going back to the college lifestyle seemed like the perfect fix at the time. Now, I have 9 days until I go back to school and I am FREAKING OUT. I feel as though I am running out of time to do everything I want to do and spend time with the people that make my life so happy. I am in pure stress panic mode. How could I feel so prepared one minute and then dread the thought of leaving everyone the next? It was at this moment that I realized no matter how many times I leave the nest, it will never get easier.

Now, if you are an incoming freshman, I have some advice for you.

Yes, for me, it really never gets easier. But, that is no need to go into panic mode! It is truly different for everyone. If I can suggest anything to you, it would be to take the time to reflect on the change that you are about to endure and realize it is a lot less scary than your head may be making it seem. You are leaving the nest but you are becoming the awesome, independent man/woman that you were raised to become. When you get to school, find and surround yourself with people that remind you of those that love you back home. Focus on the important things that will make your transition into the new world much easier and smoother. Change can be tricky, but it is nothing to be scared of.

If you are like me, I hope you know that just because it is not exactly easy for you to leave where you feel the most comfort, does not mean what you are going through is abnormal. It takes time. For some people, it just never gets easier to leave at that very moment. But, with time and effort, you will be back in your college routine, with your best friends making you laugh so hard you could cry, in no time. Enjoy life, the people who are there for you and love you will be right there when you get back!