When you're in high school, college seems like it is a lifetime away. Let me tell you (as I'm sure you have heard before), high school goes by in the blink of an eye. You spend four years of your life just dreaming of what life will be like when you're on your own, that you forget to appreciate what is right in front of you. To my friends on the brink of graduation this June, here are some things to truly appreciate during your final months in your hometown:

1. Your friends

When you head off to college, it's a fact that you will make new friends, and your hometown friends will go off and make friends of their own, too. You don't even realize what a huge role these friends play in your life when you are around them for so many hours of the day.

2. Home-cooked meals

Once you start eating dining hall food and calorie-packed microwave meals (do love Easy-Mac though), you are certainly going to appreciate how much you love home cooking. When I come home, my requests usually involve lasagna for dinner and bacon for breakfast.

3. Your teams, clubs, etc.

This is an important one. You learn some of the most valuable lessons from being a part of a team. Whether it's sports, music, academics, or theater, you learn so much about working with others. Also, it's just really fun to feel like you are a part of a family.

4. Privacy

This is a big one. Whether you had to share a space with someone at home or not, you are going to miss the privacy of your home. Can I hear a hello to common rooms and public bathrooms?

5. Your family

Your family is going to miss you while you are at school. As excited as they are (and you are) to go off the school, their lives are going to be different without you. Make sure you don't skimp out on the hugs and thank yous.

6. Your favorite spots in your town

Whether its the library, the sports field, the stage, or just a quiet spot outside, you will realize how much you miss your favorite spot in your hometown. When you come home, it will be one of the first places you want to go.

7. High school events

Prom, Friday night football games, pep rallys, and Spirit Week. It's things like these that seem so small at the time, but looking back, it's those moments that you will miss the most.

8. Your pets

If you have a pet, you will miss them. If there is one thing I have learned about people in college thus far, it's that people with pets miss them basically just as much as the rest of their family and friends.

9. The excitement of picking where to go to college and graduating

Deciding where to go to college is actually really stressful, as I know many of my friends are now finding. But once you know where you are heading off in the Fall, that stress turns into complete excitement. The thought of graduating also sounds about 100 times better.

10. The summertime

The summer after high school is such an exciting time. It's so easy to be swept up in the excitement of buying school supplies, dorm essentials, and meeting your room mate. But also don't wish your summer away. You are going to miss those months of relaxation when the schoolwork hits you in September.

11. The little things

It's different for everyone. They are things that you probably come into contact with every day, but never really thought of their importance. You realize that those little things were actually pretty big things.

12. The journey it took to get you where you are right now

As you head into the future, don't forget where you came from. You have made it this far because of all you have been through, all you have learned, and all of the people who have supported you along the way. The path wasn't easy, but it was most definitely worth it.