Dear future students of Iowa State University, 

Going away for school is easily one of the most exciting and monumental moments in your life thus far. When have you ever had as much freedom as living on your own with 36,660 other people your age?

With all this excitement, it’s easy to under-appreciate our home and everything our parents do for us. 

We often take our parents for granted. We see them, talk to them and argue with them everyday — until you go off to college.

In college, no one is there to tell you to pick your clothes up off the floor or to do your laundry before you’re all out of clean underwear. Then, all of a sudden, you have a messy room and no clean clothes. Nobody’s there to make you soup when you’re not feeling well. Mom and dad aren’t around to give you advice whenever you need it. 

You’ll have to start feeding yourself (and making sure you give your body proper nutrition). You’re going to have to start keeping track of your own appointments and class times. No one is going to tell you to do your homework or make you study; you’re going to have to do this all on your own. 

You might fail a couple times at being an independent adult before you get the hang of it, but that’s normal. You might miss an assignment or two, but I promise you’ll learn to keep track of due dates ASAP. You might decide to go out instead of staying in and studying, but once you get your test grade back, you’ll make sure you stay in and hit the books next time. 

You will also get really homesick from time to time. It’s unavoidable. When you once thought that getting out of the nest was the best thing to ever happen, you’re going to realize that home is the only place you want to be at times. You’re going to miss the smell of your home, home-cooked meals, the way your dog greets you when you get home and hearing your mother’s voice in the morning telling you to get out of bed. 

It’s important to remember that home will always be there. But you are here, doing important things and bettering yourself. Mom and dad will still be there when you get back, eagerly waiting for your next break to come home. 

Please let this be a reminder to hug your mom and dad while you can. Please appreciate mom’s cooking and the smell of fresh laundry in the house. Tell your mom and dad that you love them. Don’t fight with your siblings, for once. Give your pets all the attention you can while you have the chance. 

Remember to take care of yourself. Keep track of everything going on in your life, eat right, get enough sleep. Try your hardest to keep up and do well in classes. 

It’s going to be hard, but once you get the hang of it — trust me — it’s the best feeling in the world.