You would think that after being away from home for a couple years now that getting home sick doesn’t happen all that much, and while this is partially true, I still find myself missing home quite often.

I chose to go to a school nearly 700 mile away from my hometown. I am aware it is quite the distance. In the moment, however, I wanted to get away. I wanted to get as far away from my hometown as possible. I knew I wanted to take on a new journey in my life and spread my wings. I was so excited to take on this new journey when freshman year finally rolled around. Moving into my freshman dorm, while super hectic and crazy, was so exciting for me, as I was finally able to have a fresh start and a new beginning- a new place to call home.

Although something that I never really took into consideration, was the dwindling likelihood of being able to go home often. It was either I drove a whole 11 hours to get home or spend a couple hundred dollars on a plane ticket. There was no going home for the weekend to have one of mom’s home-cooked meals. There was no going home when I was getting annoyed with my roommates or didn’t feel well and just wanted to rest. On many occasions when I got sick, all I really wanted was for my mom to be there and take of me, but it wasn’t going to happen. I had to learn real quick to accept the reality that this place was my new home.

While I’m so happy I chose to go to a school far away and get outside my comfort zone, being away from home has simply been hard. Not being with my family on birthdays or big events is always sad. Not seeing friends from home on a daily basis always hurts. Not driving around in my familiar territory going to all my favorites places always makes me feel a little nostalgic.

But I think in the end that is what makes going home so special. Now after leaving and being away, I look at my hometown with such fondness. I realize how special of a place it is and how lucky I was to grow up there. Whenever I get the chance to go back and visit it becomes so much more meaningful than if I were able to visit every other weekend. I try and savor every moment I get while home and to never take it for granted.

So just know missing home while in college is completely normal and understandable and doesn’t make you any less of an independent person. Whether you are a freshman in college being away from home for the first time or a senior coming back for the last and final year, home always holds a special place in your heart and is always something you miss.