Home Sweet Home

I always knew that coming to college would be a huge step in my life and a hard transition. Before I left, I never would have thought leaving my friends and family back home in California would be that big of a deal, I always knew they would be there for me when I came back. It wasn’t until I got here that I began to realize just how large of an impact they have had on my life. I knew that I could always count on them when I needed someone to talk to or someone to go out for ice cream with. Three months after leaving I still pick up the phone and start to call one of my friends to ask them if they want to hang out, then I realize they’re over 1,000 miles away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m meeting some amazing people out here and I love CU but, sometimes it would be nice to see a familiar face. Thanksgiving break is currently 13 days away and I can’t wait to see everyone back home, I know now that I really need to cherish the time I have with them. Thankfully, with todays technology I can constantly talk to them on Facebook, Skype, and on the phone. However, I still like surprising them with the occasional old fashion letter and CU inspired birthday presents; it is so convenient to go up the the hill and buy some CU gear and postcards then walk over to Shipping on the Hill where I can easily mail them out and know they’ll get there on time.

New Habits, New Responsibilities

I always knew coming to college would mean more freedom; I overlooked the fact that it also came with more responsibilities. Unlike high school, here I don’t have my parents constantly questioning me; “Did you do your homework?” , “Who are you hanging out with tonight?”, and my least favorite “How was school today?”. In college I can stay out as late as I want and do whatever I want. As amazing as this sounds, this freedom can easily become overwhelming and lead to some bad choices. Now it is all my responsibility to finish my homework on time and come back from a fun night at a semi-resonable hour. I have to know my limits and know when finishing my work is more important then going out and having a good time. One of the hardest lessons I have learned in my three months at CU is that money doesn’t grow on trees. Now because it doesn’t, it is very important to keep in contact with family back home and remember birthdays. Family members love getting letters from “their little baby” at school and if they know you’re thinking about them, they might think about you even more. Shipping on the Hill is a very convenient resource because you can mail birthday cards and letters from here and hopefully get some spending money in return.

How to maintain your relationships during back-to-school…

You know what the worst part of coming back to school is? Leaving your friends back home. It takes you almost the full three months just to get back into the groove with those people, then BAM- back to the daily grind of term papers and mountains of reading materials. How do you stay connected with the friends you whiled your summer away with when you’re back at school?

The easiest way? Facebook. Come on, guys, let’s just accept our tech-obsessed society and embrace it. For a lot of out-of-state or international students, this feels like the only way to keep in touch despite the obstacles of time zones and long-distance calling. It’s a great way to get the full picture, too: literally. You can keep up with the crazy halloween costumes, the new relationships, and questionable Friday night activities all by looking through a photo album. Then there’s the added benefit of video wall-posts, private messages, and the sometimes-faulty Facebook IM, so you’re good to go with quick check-ups on the people you miss.

However, if you’re serious about keeping these relationships on good terms, you’re going to have to break down and use it: Mail. Real letters and packages. Whoever says care packages and letters are old-fashioned obviously have never received good care packages or letters. There is just something about receiving a physical package or letter in the mail that just screams “I MISS YOU!” Send your friends anything you want- a mix CD, a note, some photos- or some of those awesome Mint Chocolate Chip cookies from Boulder Baked! Just make sure you pack them in a Gladware container… apparently, melted chocolate chips do NOT make your tasty jams, uh, tastier. Lucky for you, Shipping on the Hill is right on your way back from the bakery, so you can ship those suckers off before you’re even tempted to ingest them. With all that money you’re saving, you might just have to go get yourself a second batch…

What do you like to give/receive in your care packages?

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