When I first started college last year, one of the things I was told was not to go home often.

They said they you should only go home for breaks, not just on random weekends. It would make me want to not go back to school. I wouldn't get the full college experience. I stuck with that during my freshmen year. It was hard not seeing my family all the time, but I got through it.

This year has been different though. I've gone home most weekends. It's not discouraged me from coming back to school. It's been actually helpful to me. I spend weekends going home. I work at my job at a pet resorts, which I love the animals and my co-workers. I spend time with my family and my own pets. I get to go on dates with my boyfriend who lives near my home.

I'm enjoying these moments. It's not only nice to get a break from school and the dorm environment, but it's been helping my mental health. I can do my homework and studies in my own quiet environment that I've made myself.

I'm also preparing for next year. I'll be hopefully getting my own apartment, so I'll have my own little home. So, the need to go home every weekend won't be there. I'll probably still travel home to see my family and work.

I don't feel like I'm missing out on the college experience. Last year, when I barely came home, I'd spend a lot of weekends either at tournament (back when I played Quidditch) or sitting in my dorm doing homework. With my new Equestrian Team only having competition three times a semester, that's left me with a lot of time stuck in my dorm.

I'm living a life outside of college that makes me happier. I still go to college events during the week and if there was something I really wanted to go to during the weekend I could always stay on campus.

I'm making memories both on and off campus. I get to live the college life, but I also get to participate in family traditions that I missed last year.

Maybe if I had travelled back and forth last year, it would have discouraged me. As a sophomore though, going home isn't a bad thing. Spending most of weekends at home as actually helped me in every aspect of my life. It's okay to go home.