Being home for an entire month is a great way to catch up on a lot of important activities like sleep, friends, and of course, Netflix. But in between all of the lunch dates and binge watching, you wake up one morning and realize that the fairytale is over, and suddenly it's time to go back to school. It's hard to believe that yesterday I got in my car and drove back to Virginia to begin yet another semester, and during that lovely five-hour drive I had plenty of time to think.
Here are some of the lessons I learned after being home for winter break:
1. Sleep is a gift.
The first thing I did when I got home from school was hibernate for a solid 24 hours. College certainly has no mercy when it comes to getting enough sleep, and I don't think we realize how much five hours or less per night can affect us (i.e. waking up for that 8 a.m. feeling like you got hit by a double-decker bus). Winter break is the time to get in those much needed eight hours or more, which means sleeping until noon is completely justified and encouraged.
2. It's never too late to explore.
When you've lived in one place your entire life like me, it's easy to believe that you know everything there is to do and see in the area. But I'm here to tell you that it's never too late to explore your own backyard! Whether it's finding a new coffee spot, road-tripping with your friends, or taking a train to the nearest city, there is always something new to discover. Just get in the car and go!
3. It's OK to take time for yourself.
When we're at school we can fall into the pattern of living for other people. We live to please our professors, our parents, and even our friends. In the midst of all of that people pleasing, it's easy to forget what it feels like to do something for yourself. Winter break is the perfect opportunity to fix that. Take a day and treat yourself to a spa treatment, shopping trip, or whatever it is that will make you feel great. After all, you deserve it.
4. Not every friendship is meant to last, and that's OK.
I've always believed that distance is the truest test of friendship, and when you and your hometown friends are scattered all over the place, it can make staying in touch pretty difficult. Over this winter break I ended up cutting ties with people I felt I've grown apart from over time. While it sucked at first, I realized that it's just a part of growing up. Being in college really shows you who your true friends are, and at the end of the day the ones who are most important will be there no matter how far away you live.
5. You realize how much you miss your roommate.
While having your own room again is a truly beautiful thing, after a while you start to miss your roommate's constant presence. If your roommate is your best friend like mine is, every night is like a sleepover, and after a while it becomes so natural that you realize you took it for granted. My first night back at home was oddly quiet, and I already missed hearing singing in the shower, having late night talks, and our midnight Ben and Jerry's runs.
6. Cafeteria food just doesn't compare.
Coming from an Italian family in New Jersey, I grew up with the best home-cooked meals (not to mention mouthwatering pizza and bagels). So as you can imagine, my first dinner at the cafeteria in my school was a very rude awakening. After a while it's easy to grow desensitized to the under-cooked chicken, overcooked pasta, and circular pieces of dough that are a sorry excuse for pizza--but at the end of the day, there's nothing like coming downstairs to a home-cooked meal made with love.
7. You realize how much you still need your parents.
Being an adult is a scary thing, and living away from home can be even scarier. When school becomes stressful, it's nice to be able to come home to parents who will always love and support you (and sometimes even cook you food and do your laundry). For me, my parents are the people that I can completely let my guard down around and confide in, and sometimes that's all you need. I think that no matter how old we get, we will always need our parents in one way or another (and let's face it; they need us too).
8. There's nothing like coming home to your pets.
One of the worst things about being away at school is not getting to see your pet every day (tell me again why pets aren't allowed in dorms?). After growing up with them for so many years, moving out and saying goodbye is hard on both parties. But nothing compares to walking into your house after being away and getting the warmest welcome from your furry or feathered friend. Because at the end of the day, you're their entire world, and they will love you no matter what bad decisions you made the weekend before.
9. A new year means new resolutions.
I have always been a culprit of coincidentally "forgetting" about the New Year's resolutions that I make. This year, however, I vow to be different. I've never bought into the the whole "new year, new me" slogan, but I do think that resolutions are a great opportunity to make some much-needed lifestyle changes and actually stick with them. For me, daily exercise has been at the top of that list (especially after eating pasta, pizza, and bagels on a daily basis).
10. While spending time at home is always great, there's nothing quite like being back at school.
My school has undoubtedly shaped me into the person I am today. It's the place where some of the greatest memories of my life have been made, and where I will continue to make more. It's a place where I am lucky enough to have lifelong friends that I always hoped I'd find. It's the place where I get to do what I love every single day and collaborate with others who share that same passion. Despite the questionable food and the fact that no pets are allowed, there's truly nothing like coming back to your home away from home.
