Yep, everyone is saying it now: It's almost time to go back to school! It's that time where you're buying dorm things or packing your life up again to get ready to move back to campus. Not many people like to admit it, but the homesickness will hit you like a train as soon as your family leaves you alone in your dorm and you're surrounded by nothing but your cute decorations.

It is completely normal to feel homesick at your university, no matter how far you live. Homesickness isn't defined by the distance you are away from your family, but it's defined by the feeling you get when you wake up and have no breakfast to wake up to made by your parents. It's defined by feeling void when you're not constantly bickering with your siblings. It's defined by the loneliness you feel when you open up the door to your room, and your dog isn't waiting there for you.

When you feel homesick, you shouldn't hide it. You should find security in knowing your family will always be behind you and supporting you. My home is only 40 minutes away from my university, but that definitely does not stop me from feeling homesick. When I'm sick and studying for exams the only thing I want is to lay in bed and have my mom care for me and make her special soup, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

Being homesick isn't something you should be ashamed of; it doesn't make you any less immature. Just because you want to call your mom and talk to her for hours for no reason doesn't make you less of an "adult" than someone who waves off all family attempts to reconnect.

Being homesick just lets you know that you're on to the next step of your life. You won't always be under your parents' wings, but you know they'll be there to fly in and save you whenever you need them. Anything can trigger a feeling of being homesick.

For a lot of people I know, it's when they're not feeling well and have no one to care for them like parents do. It's also when your favorite sports team is playing, and you are watching the game, wearing your favorite player's jersey, and your dad and brother aren't there next to you screaming their lungs out at the referees.

It's when you need to make sure your outfit looks perfect and you're not sure which pair of shoes look better and your sister isn't there to guide you in all your fashion crises. It's when you wake up in the morning and long for the smell of pancake and eggs that your mom loves to make on Saturdays.

Anything can trigger it, but what can stop the feeling? Don't be afraid to facetime your family, shoot them a "how was your day?" text or snapchat them. Whatever communication floats your boat, don't be afraid to do it. Your family will appreciate it as much you do.

It's almost time to go back to university, it's almost time to be homesick again. But, the next years of your life will be the best when you make new friends, take new classes and try new things; all with the loving support of your family.