Around this time of year, many of us are preparing to go back to school, and while we all are excited to go back, it's important to remember how much we are missing out on leaving home.

1. Breakfast every day.

We all know how it goes some mornings. Maybe you have an absurdly early class, maybe you have an exam, maybe you spent all night cramming, maybe you were up doing ... other things.

The long and short of it is we college students miss breakfast sometimes. Or maybe don't get a good one. And I know some of you think breakfast is overrated.

But I've got to admit, being at home being able to wake up in the morning and grab something simple to eat or sit down for a nice big breakfast...

It's really really really nice.

2. Catching up with friends.

With our social media-centric world, we never really lose track of people with whom we care to keep in touch. Heck, I'm friends with people that I was only in kindergarten with on Facebook. But sometimes it's nice to hang out face to face with friends you haven't been with for a long time.

3. Being closer to family.

This probably doesn't affect everyone. But I go to school pretty far from home. And I'll admit going from no contact to constant contact with my family was pretty shell shocking at first. However, after awhile I realized that I greatly appreciated being around my family for a few months.

4. BOARDWALK DAYS!

I probably live in the closest thing to a vacation town there is in southern Maryland. It isn't much: water park, crab shops, a ... train museum for some reason, but my favorite part has always been the boardwalk.

It's great. I love walking from one end to another taking in the sea air, the water, the beach shops ... the Pokestops.

Anyways, I have always enjoyed walking boardwalks. You can just sit down, look over the bay and just enjoy life.

5. Home cooking.

I believe not wanting to work for food is a driving force in human civilization. I base that on absolutely nothing, but hey whatever. Being at home and not having to provide my own food all the time is just awesome.

I don't think any of us truly appreciated out parents until we came home and didn't have to get our own food.

6. Maryland is awesome.

I love Maryland. From the people to its history to the flag and even the environment. I love everything about my home state.

I'm sure everyone says the same about their home state. The difference is that Maryland is, in reality, the most superior state. It has earned the nickname "America in Miniature." In the west, we have the beautiful mountains of Appalachia. On the peninsula, we have the rolling hills of the eastern shore. In the center, we have Marylander cities and suburbs that have grown inexorably connected with the capital of out great nation. And at its heart is the Chesapeake Bay, the body of water that forever remains imprinted into the glamor of Maryland.