Entering senior year, you think to yourself, "college won't be here until FOREVER, I've got plenty of time to enjoy being at home". Next thing you know, you have your college acceptance, you are walking to get your diploma, buying dorm necessities, and all of a sudden, it's a week before the dreaded Move-In Day. You've packed and re-packed and maybe re-packed again, but you just can't shake that new found anxiety that is lurking around you. This, my friend, is when you realize that you are a homebody, and you are terrified of leaving your beloved home.

For those who don't know or aren't sure about what a homebody is, a homebody is someone who enjoys being with friends, going out, and going on vacations, but in the end, they can't wait to be home again where they are encased in their comfort zone bubble and their sense of routine resumes. When it comes to picking a college, I tried my hardest not to focus on the distance from home, but rather if the school felt like home. Luckily, I found the perfect fit for me and my family in Homewood, Alabama, at Samford University. I encourage every senior in high school to have that mindset when touring and applying for the next step in their education.

To those who are homebodies and that are about to leave for school, I have some reminders:

1. Right now, you are going to your school for a reason. God's plan for your life is just starting to unfold right before your very eyes. You wouldn't be going to your college or university if the Lord didn't have a purposes for you there.

2. Accepting your admission to your college/university is not a four year sentence. You have to remind yourself that if it is too hard for you to be away from home that you can always transfer schools at the end of the semester. This is NOT something for you to convince yourself that you are going to do before you even leave for school, but something to remember and pray about when you find yourself missing the comforts of home.

3. When anxiety from missing home hits, pray for peace. How awesome is it that no matter where we go or how far from home we get that was can always rely on our Lord for guidance!! I am always astonished by the fact that Jesus hears you wherever you are and whenever you call on Him. Praying for peace and a comforting hand will always bring joy in the morning.

4. Don't ever be embarrassed to call home or go home more than the usual college student. Everyone adjusts to college differently. If you adjust by calling your mom, boyfriend, and best friend practically every night, so be it! If you want to go home practically every weekend, oh well! No one has the right to tell you that you can't go home or call your family. Everyone misses their own people when their at school. You should't be ashamed for missing the ones you love most.

5. Don't make yourself fake happiness. When you first get to school, its going to be so easy to get caught up in all of the freshman activities and try to put the burden of missing home into the back corner of your mind. And at first, that is completely fine! But when you're sitting in your dorm room thinking about home, don't let yourself hold it in. Holding back your emotions from missing your family and friends will eventually lead to a major meltdown. Allow yourself to miss them and randomly call in the middle of the day. I promise you that they'll love hearing from you and that you'll enjoy being able to talk to them as well.

To conclude, college is the best four (or maybe five or six) years of your life. Don't tell yourself you can't go to your dream school because you'll miss home too much. The Lord is calling you there for a reason, and you have to give Him the chance to show you. Pray continually for peace and guidance, and you'll be shocked at the happiness you'll find waiting for you and remember you're not alone in missing home. Much love xoxo