It is that time of the semester where everything is beyond overwhelming. Midterms are kicking our asses, everyone is getting sick, and extracurricular activities are getting way too time-consuming.

We are all at the same spot where all you can think about is the next time you are going home to the comfort of your house and family. I know I am counting down the days! If you're in the same boat as I am, hang in there.

You're probably feeling lame and out of the ordinary. You see your friends always having an amazing time and saying they aren't going home until Thanksgiving. But that's not you.

You miss your own bed. You miss the home-cooked meals. You miss your family doting on you. YOU MISS YOUR DOG. Oh, how many times I have asked for pictures of my dog to feel a little closer to home.

Although it may seem like the seconds until your homecoming are passing gruelingly slow, know you're not alone. You are not childish for wanting to be with your mom. For the longest time, I felt almost guilty to have this urge to be at home. I would think, "I absolutely love college, but why am I still craving this need to be back?"

Let me tell you a little secret, almost everyone feels this way! Many try to hide it, but we humans have a natural instinct to crave the comfort of home. It came to the point where I decided I am not going to feel guilty about craving this. I am allowed to love my school, and also miss home...there is NOTHING wrong with that.

I've found that creating a "school family" helped me with this issue. Find friends that share the same values as you. Being your authentic self, such as you do with your family, will help you create a little community of like-minded individuals. Having this community will most definitely make the struggles of being a college student a little less daunting. Sometimes, we do not miss our home as much as we miss the comfort of home. Find friends that can bring that comfort into your college life!

That being said, nothing can beat the feeling of embracing your mom, even if you have the best support system at college. Just hang in there though, because the time you spend missing home is time lost finding the beauty around you at school. It's all about finding the balance between the two.

You are allowed to miss home and your family...I do all the time! But just be sure to enjoy the many college experiences, because you will regret if you don't.