Dear Friends,

It's been a solid maybe three months since I've seen all of my friends from back home and it's been crazy. No ones' break started at the same time, and everyone wants to see one another and you just feel flooded with love. My friends all talk with cool new mannerisms they picked up from their college friends and we get to know what people are like from other places in the country or around the world. The best is when you realize nothing is awkward and weird just because you don't see them everyday.

Going to that corner deli you went to all of your opens in high school, the beach where you would all meet up and watch the sunset, and even just that diner with the really crappy, overpriced food that you used to go to late at night just to be loud or while transitioning between parties. All of those small moments that seemed endless in high school that you want to now go back to and relive are all there once you go home! Even though it's supposed to be Thanksgiving BREAK and you're supposed to sleep and finally catch up on those assignments from October, you just can't help but spend every moment with other people because let's be honest, that's why you love home. No matter how much technology we have, Houseparty just wont replace actual hangouts where we would burn food together or go on adventures out to open fields or beaches. Everyone seems to be adulting, declaring majors or concentrations, even doing research already which feels really weird but everyone just hypes one another up so it feels amazing that your support system is still in tact.

This all might sound super cheesy or like I'm some weirdo that peaked in high school, but it's not like that I promise! It's the way you bother your brother every time he comes home late from a friends house or the way your best friend comes and picks you up blasting Chance the Rapper on your way to brunch. It's that small sense of security and familiarity with home. It's knowing how things are, who you're around, having casual run-ins with your neighbors or family friends at the super market. It's the feeling that people are rooting for your success and not just watching what you post on Insta or Facebook to see how lit your life is. You grew up living life a certain way and probably weren't used to just dropping everything and one know you knew to start over, but always remember that you can go home again and that there are always people on your side waiting for you. So guys, thanks for reading this whole thing and text me!! I'm always on my phone and down to make plans.

- Emma