Whether it’s a sibling or a friend, saying goodbye to someone as they head to college is a difficult experience and adjusting to life with them away at school is challenging.

Juniors Ethan Chelf and Ryan Feldman both have friends and siblings who have gone away to college. Feldman has two older brothers and Chelf has an older sister. Chelf’s sister started her freshman year at the University of Maryland this year, leaving Chelf to adjust to his life as the only kid living at home. “Obviously I miss them, but they have a lot of breaks and stuff so I get to see them a good amount,” Chelf said.

Junior Vicky Thomas also had to say goodbye to friends as they headed to school this year. She is still not accustomed to the fact that she does not see these friends everyday at school anymore. “It’s hard not seeing them in the hallway everyday, but I’m getting used to it,” Thomas said.

Thanksgiving break, winter break, and various other breaks throughout the school year give friends and siblings ample time to reconcile after being apart. Winter break for most colleges is over a month long, and summer break is over two months long. “They get pretty long breaks, which is nice,” Chelf said.

Visiting friends or siblings at school is a common activity for seniors and juniors. While visiting someone at school, students are able to meet new people, get a good look at the college campuses, and get a taste of the college experience. “I can’t wait to visit some friends this year because it sucks not having them around all the time,” junior Madison Linn said.

Junior Keyan Roshan is now an only child after saying goodbye to his older brother Shayan, as Shayan headed off to school this year. Roshan hopes to visit his brother sometime in the next two years. “I want to experience the college atmosphere,” Roshan said.

Those who go off to college often miss their high school friends or younger siblings back home, too. “Going to college is a massive change — so many students are being uprooted from the familiar comforts of their homes and thrust into a completely new place,” junior Sharon Oh said.