Moving away from home to attend college has been an extreme eye-opener. There are many things I realized I took for granted over the last 18 years. I decided to write this article to display what I believe I took for granted and wish I wouldn't have now that I'm without.
1. My Best Friends
Not saying I "took advantage" of my friends necessarily, but what I'm trying to say is that it's hard being away from them, especially when you move to a school where you know a couple people or none at all. Sometimes you just need that late night pizza/Slurpee run or an all-nighter filled with gossip and laughter, and you come to the realization that it's not just a short drive away anymore.
2. Household essentials (e.g. Salt and pepper, butter, toilet paper, a broom, or just food in general...)
These were the things that just seemed to always magically be there (even though Mom or Dad bought them), but when I first moved away I found out very quickly there was no Mom or Dad to make sure the toilet paper was stocked or that there were salt and pepper shakers in the cupboard.
3. My favorite places only available in my hometown
Sometimes I just wanted some ice cream from my favorite ice cream shop or to take a quick run to the nearest fruit market that was always my favorite, but I quickly came to the realization that I had to start from scratch when it came to seeking out new places to explore.
4. My own bed
There's just something about my room at home that's much more cozy and comfortable than the one here at school. Going home on some weekends made me miss it even more.
5. Festivities in my hometown
While I still lived at home, there were some things that I did annually or weekly or even daily that were only available in my hometown. For example, this was the first year that I missed my town's St. Patrick's Day parade in I can't even remember how long...Welcome to college!
6. Family hangouts
Yeah, these might be a pain in the rear when you're still at home and all you want to do is go watch Netflix by yourself in your room, but when you leave there's bound to be a time where you want to be watching the latest Disney movie with your family while eating some popcorn!
7. Group hangouts practically every weekend
It's now a special occasion when we're all together in the same town on the same weekend and can get together, when it used to be a regular thing no matter what...
8. Knowing almost everyone in town
Moving out (to a new city) forces you to start over and branch out to make new friends, which can be a challenge, but is worth the risk!
The list is endless, but these are some common ones! Don't take your home life for granted!
