Your family, whether biological or adoptive, helped raise you to be the person you are today. Your parents told you stories of the hiccups in their lives so that we wouldn't make the same mistakes they did. We were raised to have the opportunities that they never did, and for that, we love them. Older siblings helped introduce you to the new things, whether it was music, clothing styles, or their friends that they didn't want to share. They helped you grow into the world of confusion and were there for you whenever you needed them. No matter what type (or how many) of conflicts you've had over the years with them, they're your family, and that's something you should always remember.

When we're away at college, we tend to drift away from the people we were in high school, and away from those previously involved in our lives. After a few months, your life has become so busy with school and work that you feel like there's no time to make new friends or keep in contact with old one. Your time is running away from you. The main problem with this situation is that your family is included in the group of people who you feel like you don't have time for, and it sucks.

I've always been close with my parents. I enjoy letting them in on my life, telling them stories of my experiences away from home and allowing them to get to know the person I am to my friends as well as the person I am when prying eyes are turned away. They are my lifeline, and that's not just because I want them to continue funding my education. I can call anytime when I have a problem in my life and I'm sure to receive sound advice on how to handle the situations. And they give you the advice without an ounce of annoyance in their voices, which we can't always count on with friends.

Siblings fight, and that's a given, especially when you're the same gender and close in age, but they are always open to hear you out whenever you have any issues. Just like parents, they are open to give you the advice you need to hear, and unlike parents, the advice they give you comes from a more relevant place because they experienced similar problems around the same time in their lives as you.

Take it from someone graduating a year early – time passes by fast in college. There comes a point when you need family to lift up your spirits to help you get through even just a normal week. Whether it's just a phone call or a trip back home, family can do wonders to your confidence and livelihood when you're swamped with college. It's important to maintain that relationship, because the truth is, your family probably misses you more than you think.