Whatever horrible situations we get ourselves into, we have parents, and brothers and sisters to support us. And just when we're ready to jump, these are the people who are able to talk us down off our ledges. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and while at school, the absence of family allows us to appreciate them even more. Phone conversations my freshman year consisted of informing her of good grades on tests and papers and the things I was doing to keep myself occupied. I wouldn't say that I was lying, I just neglected to mention the not so hot grades and the drunken weekends.
Parents know what's going on.
I didn't tell her about the crummy grades or passing out on the front lawn of a friend's house, but in some sense, she knew. Parents expect a great deal of us, but we're allowed to be kids, we're allowed to make mistakes. College is filled with learning experiences, and for the most part, I think that the greatest learning is done outside of the classroom. I'm not necessarily talking about learning how many beers you can drink before you pass out, although that is a valid lesson, but more so about becoming self-reliant adults, still knowing that family will always be there for support. The greatest lesson that I've learned is that my family is my greatest ally.