You just finished finals, packing, saying goodbye to your roommates, and you realize going home is closer than you think. You're feeling a mix of emotions from sadness to relief and excitement to apprehension. Last summer was all about goodbyes, send-offs, and a lot of lasts with a lot of people you'd maybe never see again. You know the summer after freshman year will be different, but you're not sure just how yet. Here are a few of the things you realize once you finally get home.
1. You have to pay for everything.
At school there's declining balance, the dining hall, and loads of other ways to avoid spending real money but at home that's not an option. Your choices are use all the change you have for one meal or a half a tank of gas, but never both. Choose wisely.
2. You have to drive everywhere.
At school everything you want to do is within walking distance from the nicest restaurants to everyone's favorite hangout. Once you get home that distance increases. Your favorite restaurant is a five mile drive and that favorite hangout place either doesn't exist or is the movie theater eight miles down the road.
3. Your parents are always there.
Being away at school is a blessing for most because you don't have parents telling you what to do and when to do it. Although you may have missed them, coming home to a house with real adults can be just as annoying if not worse than your awful roommates. The closest thing to an adult at school is your RA that looks 30, but still acts 12.
4. There has to be an event going on to see people.
At home you don't have the luxury of just walking down the hall to see a friend. At school you had friends feet away, but at home effort has to be made to hang out with anyone. Your best friend doesn't live in your building and either someone has to quit being lazy or there has to be a crazy party going on for you to see each other.
5. You're right where you need to be.
Whether you've realized it or not it's been a long year and it's time you come home. A lot has changed, but most of it has been for the better. You've made new friends and tried plenty of new things, but home is always where the heart is. You may have to pay for more, but in the long run the money will come. You may have to drive everywhere, but to a certain extent that's half the fun. It may feel like your parents are on top of you, but it's only because they missed you. Finally, it may seem like there always has to be an event going on for you to see people, but in all actuality your best friend will always be down to do nothing with you any day of the week.
