This article was originally published prior to June 2, 2013.  Due to a change in content management systems, the initial publication date is not available.

I always look forward to school breaks. It’s not worrying about homework, being able to sleep in or partying the night away. For me, it’s all about going home.

Being from Maryville, Mo., it’s hard for me to drop my plans and go home. I have school every day and work every weekend.

I miss seeing my brothers’ football or soccer games, taking care of my dog and catching up with old friends.

But once I’m home, it’s like I never left.

I had to wake up early to do my chores. Since my family was at work or school, I had to clean the house.

When my brothers came home from school, they would help me cook dinner so my parents, after working a full day, wouldn’t.

It would have bothered some, but I enjoyed it. It made me feel grounded. Just because I returned from school didn’t mean that I had to be pampered.

I love being around my loved ones, staying up until the early morning hours talking to my brothers about nothing.

Even though we’ve lived in the same house our whole lives, our talks made us realize things we never knew about each other.

Going to their sporting events makes me feel better as a sibling.

Instead of sleeping in, doing homework or going out with friends, I would rather watch my brothers play a sport they enjoy.

I know being moved out and coming back home can be a nightmare for some. Having to deal with their parents’ rules drive some people crazy.

Fortunately, I have parents who understand I’m 22 years old. I’m going to make decisions for myself.

When I’m home, I don’t have a curfew. I can go out whenever I want. When I do, I make sure I’m home at a decent time, for my parents’ sake and mine.

One of the greatest reasons I look forward to coming home is to see the love of my life: my Chow Chow, Bear.

Having something love me as much as I love him brings purpose to my life.

Even if nobody thinks I’m special or wonderful, I know I can look at my dog and see that I’m his world.

I took care of him when I brought him home during a hot July day, but unfortunately I had to leave him for school.

I thought he would probably forget about me and not know me when I went back.

<br/>When I returned for fall break I yelled his name and he had a grin on his face and ran to me.When I returned for fall break I yelled his name and he had a grin on his face and ran to me.
When I returned for fall break I yelled his name and he had a grin on his face and ran to me.

When I’m home, he’s my responsibility and I love it.

Whenever I leave, my heart breaks because it is like I’m abandoning my child. But when I come home, I see in his eyes that Mommy has returned.

One of the things I like about going home is that I can run into an old friend at a restaurant or Wal-Mart. We catch up and reminisce about the good times.

I get a kick out of the people who I went to high school with, seeing them and realizing that I was fortunate enough to get out of my hometown.

I knew that in order to succeed, I had to get out of Maryville.

Even though Baldwin City is smaller than Maryville, I know I have so many more opportunities here than there.

I’m glad I left, but I love visiting every now and then.