Growing up. It is a weird phenomenon. You go from a household with parents, siblings, rules, and curfews to being thrown into the big wide-open world. It's scary really.

This summer, I will be studying abroad. It will be my first time traveling overseas and the first time being that far away from my family. Not only will I be far away from my family, but many of the friends that I have made in college will be graduating just before I leave. Some will move away and it'll be a while before I see them again.

On top of all of that, my best friend of 15 years is studying abroad for the spring semester and I won't see her until I return in July. This is the longest amount of time that we will have ever been apart from each other.

The love that I have for my friends and family is strong. I trust that we will all make it through these times apart. As I go through that uncertain time in my life, I remembered a quote from one of my favorite childhood books:

"You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you're real you can't be ugly, except to the people who don't understand. -The Velveteen Rabbit

Now I know this quote is speaking of a stuffed rabbit, but I think that it translates rather seamlessly into life. It reminds me that everything will be alright. We walk a long road in order to get where we are going in life.

People will come and go. You'll go through hard times, scary times, and happy times. I can't wait for the day when I am old and gray, looking back on my life. I want to look back and remember sadness, but also the happiness that it led to. I want to remember loss but also the amazing things I gained because of it. I want to remember all of the mistakes and the lessons that I learned from them.

I want to remember it all because it is all a part of my journey to becoming "real." Someday I will look back and be thankful for this summer. I'll be thankful for the time that I spent away from my dear friends because I am sure that our friendship will only be stronger because of it.