Like so many kids out there, I just finished up my freshman year of college. This past year has been a time of letting go of old expectations and embracing new ones, meeting new people, discovering new interests, and getting used to living on my own.

The thing that should jump out at you from that list is "getting used to living on my own."

Spending the majority of my year living away from my family was definitely something different. But I found (and I suspect that many other people may be discovering the same thing) that moving back home after school was a bigger adjustment than moving away. If this is something you're experiencing, the first step is to not feel guilty about it! Living on your own is fun. It's exciting. You get to make all sorts of decisions for yourself that you haven't gotten to make before. You're supposed to feel good about being independent and adult-y. But I've come up with a list of four things you need to keep in mind when you come back home for the summer, because even though you're out of school, there are still important things to remember for these three months!

1. Your family really missed you.

You weren't the only one who had to adjust to you living somewhere other than home. You have a family who likes to have you around! So even if their exuberant greetings feel a little overwhelming, go with it. They love being with you and they're just excited to have you back.

2. Respecting house rules is still important.

Yes, you're independent. Yes, you can buy your own peanut butter. And yes, you are legally an adult. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want (trust me on this one). And it definitely doesn't mean you don't have to show a little respect and appreciation when it comes to the way your parents want life in their house to be.

3. Old friendships matter.

High school is a thing of the past, but the people you knew in high school actually still exist. Sometimes it's hard to keep up past friendships when you're all off doing your own thing in the world, but the people who were so special to you last year still matter! Get coffee with people. Go see movies as a group. Make an effort to show your high school friends you still care about them.

4. Sleep is critical.

It's true that in college you survived on an average of four hours of sleep per night. It's also true that this is something you definitely should not do year-round. Summer is a time for going to bed early and getting up late. Never forget that. It'll keep you alive till graduation.