After being in college for nearly two months now, I have learned to love the independent life. However, being on my own isn’t as amazing as I thought it would be. I do get lonely at times and I really do miss my parents greatly. Being away from my parents for the first time has made me realize how much they have actually done for me.

Weirdly enough, what I genuinely miss most is coming home after school to my parents and talking about my day with them. Walking back to my dorm and closing the door behind me as I walk into an empty room after a tiring day of classes gets old. Back when I was in high school, I would be excited to come home to hear my mom say “How was your day?” and talk about my classes and all the drama of the day. Although I can call my mom and talk about the day, it still isn’t the same.

I also miss my dad’s cooking- a lot. I always loved waking up to the smell of him cooking eggs downstairs and asking me how many pieces of toast I wanted. I don’t have the luxury of weekend family breakfasts at the table like I used to and I miss that. I really took that time for granted, always rushing back upstairs to go on my phone or Facetime friends.

I will always remember how I felt my first night in college. Although I was so anxious and excited to begin a whole new life, it was bittersweet. I wasn’t as happy as I anticipated I would be. Getting into bed without going into my parent’s room and telling them goodnight was a weird feeling. Instead, I sent them a selfie of me in bed and texted them goodnight. For the first time, I was beginning to miss my parents- people I never had to miss before. I had never gone to sleep away camp or anything like that, so being away from my parents took some getting used to.

Starting freshman year of high school, all I was looking forward to was going to college, moving in, and experiencing college. Yet, now that I am here, I wish I hadn’t been so focused on moving out so quickly. This whole experience truly did teach me to live in the moment and to not be so focused on what’s ahead.

However, two months down the road and I like the independent lifestyle. I have grown up immensely within the past few months. I have learned how to do my own laundry and prioritize my own time, taking complete responsibility for myself. I am proud of who I am and who I’m becoming. I wouldn’t want to change a thing.

Overall, being away from my parents for the first time like this really has opened up my eyes and made me appreciate them more than I ever have before. So thank you Mom and Baba, for all that you have done and still continue to do. I love you both.