When it came time to choose where to go to college, we were the trailblazers. We were the ones who decided it was time to branch out and become independent of our parents. We had great intentions, but lets face it. Sometimes going to school far from home is a huge struggle.
1. Getting sick far from home is actually the worst thing ever.
Whether it be that random cough you got, strep, or a 24 hour stomach flu, being sick at college is horrifying. You lay in fetal position next to your Dayquil and tissues on the phone with your mom as a form of comfort, but it's just not the same as her being there to take care of you. She says "I wish I could be there to help you", but it's not like she can take the 10+ hour drive to see you.
2. Those three day weekends when everyone goes home and you can't.
Campus is empty, your dorm/house is eerily quiet, and you actually have no idea what to do with your life. All your friends took their short drive home to be with their families and get pampered with love and home cooked meals, but you are still left struggling with your uncomfortable bunk bed and dwindling bank account.
3. Dad's Day/Mom's Day.
Everyone's parents come in for the weekend, but yours can't travel all the way to your campus just for a 48 hour hang out. Your friends say "you can be my sibling for the day!" and sure that's sweet, but it also makes you feel a little pathetic and sad too. You become the photographer for the day of all your friends with their parents, and you basically just sleep through all the events planned.
4. When you have a long week and just want to go home.
We've all been there, that one week where you just so happen to have 4 tests and 2 papers due all within a span of three days. You barely make it through the week, and suddenly it's the weekend and everyone wants to go out. Sure that sounds fun, but all you really want to do is be in your bed at home watching Netflix and having your parents make you food. Is that going to happen? Nope.
5. Making a visit home takes months of planning.
Some of your friends wake up on Sunday morning and decide, "I'm just going to go home!". Can you do that? Not a chance. You have your flights pre-booked already for Thanksgiving and Christmas and have your ride to the airport organized weeks or even months in advance, but other than that, you are not going home.
6. No weekend visits from your parents.
Your friends' parents sometimes just randomly come to campus and surprise your friends and take them out to eat and buy them things. Meanwhile, your bank account is into the double digits and you're calling home begging your parents for a care package.
7. Easter.
Easter, the holiday that comes with basically no break. Your parents say "no way" to flying you home for the weekend, so you're out of luck. Either you go home with a friend and become a temporary part of the family (much to the confusion of your friend's extended family) or you go to the church close to campus with the rest of the left behind college kids.
8. Obviously, homesickness.
You love your college campus and your friends and wouldn't trade the experience for anything, but you can't help but miss your hometown and family. Everyone gets homesick, even the people who don't go to college far from home. But while they are able to do something about it, you're just left to tough it out.
9. Sometimes, you just need a hug.
We're in college; while we are becoming adults, in some ways we are so far from being one. Some days you'd be willing to jump in a car and drive those 10+ hours just to get a hug from your mom or dad.
10. The doubt.
When you go to college far from home, it's an emotional roller coaster. The minute you have a bad day, you start questioning yourself. Was it a mistake to go this far from home? What am I even doing here? You get over it of course, but in the moment it's hard to deal with.
