It’s almost 9:30 on a Tuesday night in your college town and you’re sitting in your dorm room or apartment working on a project or assignment or studying for a test and all of a sudden, you get a text or a call from mom or dad. It’s a “Hi honey, I miss you. How was your day?” or a “What have you been up to?” text that tugs at your heart strings and makes you want to book a flight home within 30 seconds.

Long distance is hard. Especially when you know that the only reason you’re able to be in whatever college town working on whatever project or assignment is because of the sacrifices that your parents have made in order to get you there. I pinch myself every time I think about complaining over homework or attendance policies because who am I to complain about being part of the small percentage of people that are able to receive a college education? Who am I to dread classes or assignments that give me the knowledge and wisdom that I need to make me a cut above the rest?

Lately, I have been thinking about home a lot. My (not so little anymore) little sister just bought a dress for her senior prom and I won’t be able to be there to take pictures with her. She’s graduating at the end of May, and I won’t be able to come home to congratulate her and take a family picture like she was able to do for me.

It’s so funny to think that two years ago, I was so ecstatic to move away from my parents and their rules and experience life on my own, when now, no matter what the situation is, I find myself calling my mom or dad for advice. Wishing I could come home and watch the Golf Channel with my dad or a corny old western movie with my mom.

I’m missing events and milestones for my sister and family functions here and there, and with the passing of each one, my heart grows a little heavier and a wave of homesickness passes over me. But this is what I wanted! I wanted to move away from home, grow as my own person and experience new places and people on my own. And I have done that and have enjoyed every second of it, and for that I am lucky.

So I found that the way to even it all out is to simply be thankful.

Be thankful that you get to sit in a classroom and be lectured by professors who have a lifetime of stories and applicable knowledge. Be thankful that you are tested over material concerning your future career. Be thankful that you are able to attend a huge university. Be thankful that you have food to eat and a roof over your head. Just. Be. Thankful. It all gets easier from there.

So next time your mom wants to chat or your dad asks how you are, make sure they know that you’re thankful for them. Because although every situation is different, I know I wouldn’t be sitting here working on a project in a nice apartment at an incredibly nice university if it weren’t for the obstacles and sacrifices that my parents went through to get me here.

So, to my mom and dad: thank you, I love you, I miss you every day, and Roll Tide.

Stephanie Gaytan is a sophomore majoring in public relations and Spanish.