Research papers, group projects, clubs, sports, work, GPAs, scholarships, studying abroad, friends, dorm life, and finals. College becomes its own galaxy; students are sucked in by the gravitational pull of education and a bright future and orbit around it until they are let loose into space after four years.

But too often, parents are pushed away from this college galaxy. It is easy for students to get absorbed into the college lifestyle and forget to check in at home. Especially since most students leave their parents and go away to college, sometimes traveling thousands of miles away to go to school in a different state or country. And to parents this probably seems like light-years away.

But just because parents aren’t around, it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve recognition for everything they do for you.

They have been there for you throughout your life and all previous education, and that involvement doesn’t stop during college. Sure, students have more personal responsibilities in college and probably have to start doing more grown-up tasks over time, but your parents are still the ones you are going to call when you’re sick, or stressing out about finals, or desperately searching for life answers or a summer job.

Your parents are the ones who will help you move in and out of dorm rooms or houses (for free), or will pick you up from the airport. They are the ones who you call when you have to go to the hospital or when you need them to send you your social security number for the tenth time. While they might give you grief about keeping up your grades and getting a head start on the job search, they are also most likely paying for a good portion of your education so it’s important to recognize their support and keep them happy.

Although they are often not close by during your college years, your parents still do a lot for you. It’s important to acknowledge their support and guidance throughout this time. Too often, students take college and their education for granted and do not recognize how much their parents do for them.

So if you haven’t checked in recently, now is a good time to tell your parents thank you. While it is a very busy time for students with finals and graduation, it’s still important to make time to give them a call, apologize for the late Mother’s Day card, and let them know you are grateful for their support.

And to my own parents, thank you for supporting my education and crazy dream of going to college in a different state. Your guidance continues to push me forward to achieve my goals.

Claire Noack can be reached at noac8702@stthomas.edu.