The first couple weeks back in school were bittersweet. On the one hand, ruling the school and being the top class was great — we have the best hang-out spots, parking spaces, teachers and classes. But on the other hand, the absence of a class ahead of us, a buffer between us and a life away from home, made things a bit lonely.

I guess I never really pictured myself living away from home without basketball study breaks with my brother, tuna melt sandwiches on Sundays from my Dad, and special notes from my Mom left on my desk after tough days. That was, until now, when I am the one wearing the blue “Seniors” shirt. And these thoughts were lonely ones at first.

But then I looked back to my time living in San Francisco and my time away from home in Germany on a study abroad trip. If those experiences taught me nothing else, they taught me that the close relationships I share with my family and my friends are not lost when distance comes between them. If anything, that distance strengthens those relationships when they are forced to adapt to new working conditions. For example, morning notes from Dad scribbled on loose paper will turn into text messages and e-mails. Long walks and talks with Mom will turn into those same walks, but using cell phones to bridge the miles. My brother peeking his face into my door late at night when we’re both studying will turn into late night video chats. Weekends with friends will turn into winter breaks. These changes will certainly be different, but different isn’t bad, it’s just different.

Just to make sure that my fears and conclusions about being away from home were true, I called a couple of my good friends who had already graduated to get their perspective. I always find it helpful to talk to those who have gone through whatever I’m anxious about for reassurance and peace of mind. My friends’ responses were surprisingly unanimous — they told me that during their first few weeks and months in college, the changes definitely took some getting used to, but once they got into a groove, they had too much fun in college to even think about being lonely. They also said that whenever they saw or spoke to their families or friends, it was like they hadn’t skipped a beat. My friends said that their relationships with their families and their friends were even better in some regards.

I felt much better about my minor concerns after talking to my older friends and looking back on my own experiences.

It seemed a bit odd to be having these concerns at the very beginning of senior year, but you never know what emotions a single event — like putting on a “Seniors” shirt for the first time — can evoke.

The sands of time may slip through the hourglass faster than many of us seniors like. But a poem a long-time friend of mine wrote helped me to think of this as a reminder to take advantage of all that this senior year has to offer, not as a paralyzing symbol of change.