Moving to college is one of the greatest things that has happened in my life so far. I have left the nest that I have known for the last 17 years and now it's time to jump into the world on my own. As excited as I was/am, I knew that I was going to miss people, but I didn't know I was going to miss people this much.

As we close off week 12 and start week 13, I have never been away from home this long. I went home the weekend after Labor Day to watch the University of Idaho Vandals get their butts kicked by the University of Washington Huskies. That game was a whole two months ago. I am homesick. I miss my mom, I miss my dad, I miss my 10-year-old black lab/beagle mix, I miss my bedroom, I miss Chipotle, I miss my friends, I miss the place that I love and know so well.

Now, I'm not saying I get homesick all the time, I've been on enough trips without some of these aspects, but never for this long. In the Summer of 2015, I flew 6,000 miles across the sea to the Philippines. I was gone for two weeks without my parents, my dog and the rest of my home life. I never really had time to stop and think about how much I was missing people because I was so busy all the time doing things I had never done before.

But while I have never been to college before, there's a lot more free time. I have about 40 pictures hanging on my dorm wall; full of good memories with the people I care about and miss. I go to bed every night and look at a picture of me and my best friend at graduation. Of course, it makes me miss her but it reminds all she has done for me to get to where I am today. She reminds me every day to go and conquer my fears, to not give up on my dreams, she reminds me of all the people I have at home supporting me.

She reminds me of parents, who from 500 miles away, continue to make me smile and laugh every day whether they know it or not. Sending me care packages, Snapchatting me (yes, I know. BOTH of my parents are on Snapchat, how crazy right?), sending me pictures of my dog, and sending me pictures of my favorite restaurant: Chipotle. I miss seeing my parents every day, I miss my mom's cooking, I miss my dad asking me to go to the driving range with him (I never went, but I still miss being asked), I miss them nagging me about stupid things, like forgetting to move the laundry to dryer after I start a load, or going to pick up dog poop in the backyard, or to empty the dishwasher. As much as it annoyed me, I miss it. I miss them knowing where I want to go for dinner (you guessed it - Chipotle) and not judging me for it.

Lucky for me I haven't been - completely - deprived. The closest Chipotle to Moscow, Idaho is in Cour d'Alene, which is an hour and a half drive. Before I went home it had been three weeks since I had indulged in a nice, delicious Chipotle burrito. After I came back, it had been almost 2 months before I was lucky enough to be in Cour d'Alene and get myself a burrito. I know it's lame, but it brings me so much happiness and joy and I miss it. I miss going 3-4 times a week (sorry mom, sorry dad). I am SO excited to eat one when I come home.

Honestly, college is not scary once you get into the swing of things, the hardest part is leaving the life you knew so well, behind you and start this brand new journey on your own. So, homesickness is normal, and probably a little healthy. It shows you who really means the most to you. I can do this, I WILL do this.