“Goodbyes make you think. They make you realize what you’ve had, what you’ve lost, and what you’ve taken for granted.” - Ritu Ghatourey

Unfortunately, summer is quickly coming to a close and hopefully you spent your last summer before college with the people who mean the most to you because whether you like it or not, the time to say goodbye will be arriving very soon. For those of you anxiously awaiting (and maybe even dreading) your first year of college, just know that you are not alone and there is absolutely nothing wrong with your reluctance to say goodbye to everything you’ve ever known before heading off to a new place with unfamiliar people.

Regardless of if you’re commuting to college, going to a university an hour from home, or moving to a completely different state, you will be forced to muster up enough courage to say goodbye to your comfort zone. While you may be excited to start this new chapter in life, you are probably also scared shitless but fear not, that is completely normal.

If you are moving into a dorm, the week leading up to your departure off to college is going to be hectic, trust me. I remember my last week at home before my freshmen year of college like it was yesterday. I researched and studied so many “what to pack for college” lists, it’s not even funny. But as you pack boxes full of your belongings and contemplate how to decorate your dorm room, don’t forget to plan one more thing: saying goodbye.

Saying goodbye is not an easy task but it is inevitable.

As my third year of college is quickly approaching, I am no stranger to saying goodbye before heading back to sell my soul to professors and the abundance of papers and homework awaiting my arrival. While I will admit that each time is easier than the last and that there are times where I find myself mumbling throughout the summer “I can’t wait to get out of this town” when August comes around, I still find myself struggling to say goodbye to the people I love the most.

So tell the people you love the most how much they mean to you. Thank them for always supporting you and being there for you no matter what. Hug your mom and dad and even your annoying siblings… You’re going to miss them more than you think.

“Don’t be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.” - Richard Bach