It’s odd, but ten days at home from college for many, is the longest period of time we have home since August or early September. Thanksgiving break marks the first time seeing our families for this long an amount of time, seeing all of our old friends and how they have changed, showering without shoes and going to bed earlier than one. The change of pace is daunting and reminds us of childhood and the people who we were just a few months ago.

Coming home comes with change. The quiet, class driver friends are now party maniacs, the girls who swore they would never date are “wifed up,” some guys look five years older and are suddenly frat boys and if you’re like me, even your little siblings appear as if they have become adults overnight. Living away and on your own can do some amazing, crazy things to people. You also hear of people love school, some who hate it and some who are just okay. Everyone is in their own place on their own journey. No longer are the days of the high-school sheltered life. For some it’s for the better and others it’s a nightmare.

As you look around at how everyone has changed, some may pause and think have I changed this much too? I ask friends if they think I have and most reply “no, you’ve been the same forever.” It makes me oddly happy to know the person I used to be, a person I liked, has carried over to my adult life with me. For every friend that has drastically changed, there is another friend who seems like they haven’t changed an ounce. It’s refreshing to see people you haven’t seen in months and it feels like just yesterday you were bumping in the car down the back roads of our late night drives.

I find seeing these changes one of the most intriguing parts of coming home. Whatever your experience is at home enjoy it—appreciate the beautiful thing that all of these people are finding their way right along with you.