This time last year I couldn't wait to head off to Ball State University. I was finally going to have my wanted freedom that I'd been waiting so long to have. I'd be able to do whatever I wanted, and no one could really tell me what to do. Yeah... I was naive. I did not realize the little and strange things I would miss about home while away at school. Here's a list of a few of those things:

1. Having my own bathroom

For most of my life, I've always had my own bathroom right next to my room. In college, while living in the dorms, that has not been the case. Okay, sharing a bathroom with about eight different girls is not the easiest thing. Too many times have all the stalls been taken up, which results in me having to head all the way down the hallway to use another bathroom. Then the schedule cleaning times can some times be a little in annoying when my morning classes are cancelled and I sleep in. But I will say our bathrooms are spotless usually, so I'm thankful for that.

2. My pets

I had a feeling I'd miss my pets, especially my calico cat, Kali. I figured though that it'd be fine. I mean I thought I'd be going home much more often than I actually ended up going. There's been so many days where I've had a long or bad day and I just want to curl up with my cat and forget it, but I come into my dorm room and realize that can't happen. Even, Facetiming my family so I can see my pets doesn't even compare to the excitement I have when I get to go home.

3. Having a set schedule

I never in a million years thought I'd miss this. Through out college, everyday was basically the same and it did get boring. Here in college, have so many different things happening on different days it's hard to keep up with. It's not like high school when everyday my classes start at 8 and school ended at 3. Everyday is a little bit different. Some days are a lot longer than others.

4. Not having to walk far to get food

Though I have an amazing dorm that I enjoy, there's not a food place to eat in my residence hall. No matter what I have to get semi-ready and head outside to get food. I hear a whole lot of college talk about how nice it is just to be able to walk downstairs and eat. I am so thankful that when I'm home I get tojust walk downstairs to eat. It's an amazing feeling more people should appreciate.

5. No longer having a loft bed

So, my dorm came with an already lofted bed. If you don't know what that means, it's basically a decent height away from the ground. Moving in, I thought a lofted bed was no big deal. It gave my roommate and I more room to put the futon, television and other things. Yeah, I was very wrong about that. I'm clumsy. I freely admit that. I always joked that I was going to one day fall over the bed. It was funny until it actually happened. I fell off the lofted bed, wrapped in my blankets on to the hard floor. Lucky for me, I only severely sprained my ankle and was on crutches for like a week. I never realized how nice having my bed close to the ground was until I was forced to limp around school and having to explain what happened to me to others. Don't worry now I sleep with a body pillow in front of me, so that has to fall before I can fall off the bed again.

Don't get me wrong. I love college for the most part. It's been a great experience. Just looking back, you don't realize those things you had at home that you thought were no big deal. I've learned to appreciate those moments and things so much more while I'm back at home because I've realized that you might not always have them.