It's 2017. Going to college is the norm now a days. Senior year of high school everyone seems to be looking into universities across the country. Walking through the hallways you would hear talk about meeting future roommates, dorm decorations and getting out of this small town. What you don't hear is the one third of the graduating class that is attending the local community college.

There are so many reasons to attend community college; financial reasons, bringing your grades up, close proximity to home and so many others. No matter your reasoning you know what is right for you. Although staying home and living with your parents is no different than what you have been doing for the past 18 years... trust me, it's a whole new life.

The summer leading up to your freshman year is full of graduation parties and spending as much time with your friends as possible. Once mid-August hit your friends will slowly start to pull back with the hangouts to spend more time with their families. You understand but can't really relate because you will be spending the next year with your family, and ONLY your family. The lunch and dinner dates start to stop as everyone saves their money for dorm decorations and new going out clothes. Your life will seem to be at a standstill while everyone else's is taking off. It still won't hit you completely until the eve of your first friends move in date. They will have dinner with their family then escape the madness of packing the car to enjoy one last hangout with the group until Thanksgiving break. It still won't hit you because nothings changed yet, this is the moment you want to absorb and remember the most. They will get a call from their parents asking them to come home since they have to leave early in the morning. Now it will hit you. As your hugging them goodbye on your driveway then waving them off and you're standing alone. You will think to yourself, "Is this what the next year is going to feel like?" Loneliness.

The hardest part in the first few weeks of school will be trying to refrain from sending an overwhelming number of texts and snapchats to check in on everyone. You won't want to seem cliquey but you will miss your best friends. My biggest piece of advice is to keep in touch. They will love to see your name pop up on their phones. It may not be the longest conversation but a few messages will go a long way on both ends. As the weeks drag on you will make friends at school but not to the extent as your friends are making at school. Honestly, your family will become your new best friends. Weekends that used to be taken up by going out now turn into your parents treating you to a nice dinner on Friday night or sitting around watching movies on Saturday. It will take some time to adjust to this new lifestyle but you will learn to love it.

If you are lucky enough, like me, some of your friends will be within driving distance so you can make a weekend trip out of it and go visit. This drive will be the most excited you have felt in a while. The reunion hug will have you both in tears and meeting their new friends will help put yourself at ease. Your friend will have made great friends at college but you will quickly realize it is a different type of friendship. Any sort of jealousy you may have had goes away and you catch up with your best friend and become part of her new life for the weekend.

Thanksgiving will most likely be the first time the whole squad is back together. It's a short break but the atmosphere is full and your heart will feel warm again. At this point the whole leaving situation isn't as emotional, mostly because next month is that long ass, much needed, winter break.

The beginning of winter break is wonderful. Everyone is reunited and there is holiday spirit everywhere you look. However, a week or so into the break you will start to hear comments like "I need to be back at school" or "I hate being home". All your friends who went away will nod in a agreement but you may sulk. It is going to hurt because this is still your comfort zone, you drive these streets everyday and eat at the same restaurants every weekend. These remarks are going to hurt, you may even (secretly) wish everyone would go back to school so you could return to peace and quiet. Your senses will then kick in and you will feel thankful that your friends found their second home.

And for yourself, you will grow a new appreciation for your family and alone time and cherish the laughs with your forever, hometown friends.