I found that coming home for winter break allowed me to easily slip back into many of the things I thought I had left behind when I went away to university: friendships, certain errands, favorite hangouts... It's funny, because that seemed almost impossible just under a month ago.

Now, standing on the other side of break, it seems like it all went by way too quickly. And it's true - how can you possibly cram in enough time with all the people you love back home in just one month?

Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful and happy to be able to go back to a school that I really enjoy attending. But it's hard to imagine leaving all of the familiar faces and places behind all over again.

Being home provides a sort of structure that being at school seems not to. There's nothing quite like Mom's cooking, Dad's jokes, hugs from both parents, my brother's excitement over picking me up, or just being able to spread out in a house. That familiarity is what makes it hardest to leave, I think.

All that being said, the upcoming semester is going to be another adventure that I am very excited for. I couldn't have begun to expect all of the amazing things my first semester at UNC would bring me in August, and I'm hoping the same is true of January.

Essentially, we just have to be grateful for all of the time we have in the places that we have it. Each new adventure is a new thing to be grateful for, and I can't wait to see all that is coming up.