College is such a weird time for everyone. You don't quite feel like you're an adult yet but you also feel too grown up to e considered a child. It's like you get months of total independence but are still depending on your parents for your basic needs. Here's a list of some of the weirdest things I've found when going home while in college.
1. Curfew
You go from doing whatever you want whenever you want to all of the sudden having to tell you're parents where you are. You also have to respect them when they say to be home by midnight even though you're out until 2AM every night at school.
2. Packing
My whole life I've only packed when going on vacations but I've never thought about packing to go to my own house. Let me tell you, it's the strangest thing. You worry you'll forget stuff but then you figure that since its YOUR house it should have everything you need. You'll probably end up like me and forget your toothbrush but thank goodness for the free dentist ones.
3. Catching up with old friends
In college, you see your friends every day at LEAST once but usually like 10 times. It's so weird coming home to your friends who you've known since kindergarten realizing its been 2 months since you've seen them and you barely know what's going on in their lives anymore. Even though they'll always be your best friends, its still so strange thinking about seeing them only every few months.
4. Driving your car
Although many freshman do bring their cars freshman year, I am one of the few that didn't. The strangest feeling when I first got home was grabbing my keys and driving through my town. 2 months without driving may seem like nothing but it's such a weird feeling to be back behind the wheel with total freedom (well as much as your parents will give you because remember: their house, their rules).
5. Sleeping in a normal size bed
Trust me, you may not think those twin XL dorm beds are that awful once you get used to it, but once you go home and sleep in your own, normal sized bed, you'll dread your dorm room. Sleeping in a normal sized bed thats a normal distance off the ground rather than lofted is something to appreciate. Believe me when I say that weekend will be the best sleep you get for a long time.
Being able to go home in college is such a blessing but can also be a curse. It's important to balance your time spent at school and home so you still get the full college experience. Lucky for me, I live 6 hours away so going home every weekend isn't an option, but I appreciate it so much more when I can. Make it something special, that you only get to do every month or 2. Stay at school for the football games, but don't neglect your family and friends at home.
