Although my first year of college was fun, it was also tough, and I have been enjoying the time off this summer. Here are five things I am going to miss when I go back to college in the fall:

1. Independence.

Freedom is the double-edged sword. Being on your own is great except for all the added responsibilities that come with it, such as feeding yourself, washing dishes, doing laundry, waking yourself up, and not having anyone constantly making sure that you are doing your homework or studying. In addition, you are responsible for your own health and safety and for taking care of yourself in general. For these reasons and so many more, parents are great, and despite the freedom, they will be sincerely missed when I return to college.

2. Family.

My parents, siblings, and pets are perhaps what I am going to miss the most when I start classes again in the fall. They always give me their unconditional love and support and make great company and confidants when telling stories, secrets, and recalling memories made with them. They truly are your friends for life and are simply irreplaceable. Managing without them is simply hard to do while away at college.

3. Being busy.

While college does offer fun and exciting adventures from time to time, the great majority of time away in college is spent doing hours of endless homework and studying. Stress from multiple classes can sometimes overtake you. Any break you can get from it is much needed and valued, as this past summer was. College provides little to no free time away from studying, which makes keeping in touch with family and friends all the more difficult.

4. Making memories.

While the vast majority of your memories during your college years are made while you are at college, there is just simply no denying that memories made while at home with your family are just as valuable. Spending time with them can be just as fun as spending time away in college. Being at home is the most comfortable feeling in the world; it is a feeling of familiarity, contentment, and love. There is just simply nothing that compares to being in your hometown, especially when it has been months since you have spent valuable time there.

5. Revisiting old adventures and embarking on new ones.

Spending time at home relaxing can be considered bland and boring, but it offers some remarkable and peaceful moments. It inevitably creates a sense of nostalgia, whether it is revisiting old friends, teachers, or places in which so many adventures took place. Sometimes recalling old times with an old friend is just as invigorating as journeying on new adventures with them. A conversation with an old teacher or classmate can really go a long way in developing your future. While going away to a new place is exciting and adventurous, it is never a bad idea to revisit the place that made you who you are today.