Forty days ago I had to say goodbye to my friends who had become my family. Otterbein has become my home, but I had to leave campus to come back to live with my parents for the summer. The transition of having complete independence and being able to see my friends whenever I wanted has been tough, but there is a lot more that I miss about college. Here are 7 things that I really miss about not living on campus this summer:
1. Friends. I didn't realize how much time I spent with my friends until I didn't have them around. Between studying in the library, eating snacks while talking about life or going out on a Saturday night, I was constantly with my friends. Now, if I'm lucky, I see them once a month. I can't wait to get back to campus just so I can spend time with them.
2. My Dorm. I never thought I'd say that. I lived in the most worn down building but I had some fantastic memories in that building. It may have been dirty, smelly and humid but I truly had a blast in that building. I was able to meet people that I would never have encountered if I didn't live in my freshman dorm.
3. My Sorority. I didn't see myself as a "sorority girl" but now that I am apart of an organization that has given me the opportunity to get to know some amazing people, I can't imagine my life any other way. I am so grateful that I am apart of my sorority. Now that I'm not on campus, I miss being able to spend time on the front porch of the house.
4. Classes. Who would've ever thought I would miss taking classes? No one ever. I miss getting up and going to class. As surprising at it may seem, I actually enjoyed it. This year I was able to learn what I want to do for the rest of my life. I loved going to my classes because they were over topics that I loved to learn about.
5. Doughnut Runs at 2AM. Schneider's Bakery, located in Westerville, Ohio, is any Otterbein college student's heaven. After studying long and hard for an exam most students love getting a fresh Schneider's Bakery doughnut. That is the best reward for a long night studying.
6. Dogs. On campus, dogs are pretty much everywhere. I missed my dog from home, but if you see a dog on campus nine times out of 10 the owner will let you pet it. Some will let you take it for a walk or even just play with it for a little while. I miss seeing dogs everywhere, but more than that, I miss being super excited when seeing a dog.
7. Walking Everywhere. I was always walking when I lived on campus. Whether it was to and from class, around Uptown, or to my friends dorm. I rarely ever drove unless it was winter and my class was over a mile away. I miss living so close to everything. It truly is an advantage of living on campus.
My freshman year may be in the books, but I know sophomore year will be a year of memories. I can't wait to learn new things, meet new people and have the time of my life. Only 76 days left until I move back to campus, but hey who's counting?
