You've worked hard up until now. Exams on exams, paper after paper, late night after late night. You have earned this next week more than anyone else. This week is the holy grail of all weeks to college students, Spring Break. Everyone has different plans for Spring Break. Some go on ravishing vacations to foreign places, some booze hard on party cruises, some choose to travel South to live it up in the sun, others stay at their university homes and work and some head back to their hometowns. While I have been the one to go on vacation during this break of all breaks, this year I decided to come home and I'm glad I did.
1. Nothing beats seeing and spending time with your family.
Being welcomed home straight into my mother's arms is the greatest feeling of all time. Being able to sit with your sister for hours with face masks on is not an opportunity you get every day anymore. Those days of coming home and spending hours with your loved ones are few and far between. I cherish the moments I spend with them now because before I took them for granted. I love sitting around with my family now just talking about life and laughing about nothing.
2. You get to hang with your homies.
You finally get to hang out with the friends who aren't in the same city as you anymore. Some of these people have gone to other universities, some have gotten jobs, some stayed home for school or work, etc. but this is your chance to catch up. I love having the chance to come home and chill out with the people that I used to spend so much of my time with. Being able to spend time with these people is important.
3. You finally get to eat REAL home cooked food.
Between your studies and extra circulars you hardly have time to even think about eating, let alone preparing something healthy and great. There are not enough hours in the day. Hot pockets are bae. When you run out the world world might as well end, so waking up to breakfast prepared by my mom, snacks made throughout the day, and an amazing meal for dinner is hands down one of the best things about being home. Almost nothing beats it.
4. You get to sleep in your own bed.
While your place at school has become a cozy safe zone, nothing beats getting to catch some zzz's in your bed back home. Curling up after being surrounded by familiar faces in your own bed and then waking up in it in the next morning is heavenly.
5. Being able to see your pets.
Coming home to my kitties is awesome. I miss being around such loving creatures. These animals have been in my life for years. They've watched me grow up as much as I've watched them. Coming home to a wagging tail and a sloppy kisses is as close to perfect as it gets. Pets sleep with us, they cuddle, they comfort you when you're down. Pets are a big piece of home. Your pets have a special place in your heart. We love them.
6. You get a chance to work and accumulate some cash flow.
In addition to coming home for a break from classes and the rest of the chaos that is being a college student when I'm home I wait tables at a local restaurant. After waiting tables there for a little over four years it's kind of like home. I enjoy it. It's nice to be able to put some money in my pocket while being comfortable in such familiar surroundings. While some of your friends are spending mad money on vacation you can at least say you're making it instead of spending it.
7. You didn't have bust your butt for that perfectly toned Spring Break bod.
Due to the fact that you aren't out sipping on Bahama mama's in the sun this year for Spring Break means that you didn't have to break your back in the gym for hours on end. Exercising is great and 100 percent necessary. but revel in the fact that you've bought yourself a little more time. You don't have to start stressing just yet.
8. You get to go to YOUR hair dresser.
Not everyone finds being able to go to their own hair dresser as exciting as I do. But no one knows my hair better than the woman that's been cutting it for years. She knows what color I dye it. No one else would fit me in with only a few hours warning on a random night in from school. She knows when short is too short, she knows when to tell me to let it go and promises me that it will eventually grow back. She puts up with my temper tantrums when she has to trim it shorter than I planned. The bottom line is no one knows my hair or me as well as she does. And as most girls are, I'm picky about who touches my hair. Plus I'm always more than happy to see her and catch up. Treat your beauticians well ladies and gentlemen; where would we be without them?
9. You get to eat at your fave place that they just don't have in your college town.
This could be the pizza place you frequented when you were in high school or it could a perfect little Italian place with a romantic atmosphere, a sports bar and grill where you've probably eaten a thousand times and watched games on the big screen, or it could be your favorite diner with a classic old school feel and the best milkshakes in town. Whatever it may be, it's awesome, and you can satisfy you're craving for it when you're home. It's the place that when someone asked you where you wanted to go rolled right off your tongue. Being able to eat at your favorite restaurant with good friends and family is always the best. Home town favorites are where it's at and we all have them.
10. Your mom might be nice enough to do your laundry.
If you're mom is as sweet as mine maybe just maybe she'll do your laundry for you while your in. On breaks I typically bring unnecessary amounts of laundry home, and my mom being the kind soul that she is, always sends me back with all clean clothes. Yes, I'm spoiled. She definitely doesn't have to do my laundry, but I'm grateful that she does.
In my humble opinion there is no better feeling than being home. I have no shame in spending my Spring Break at home. Sometimes home can be the vacations of all vacations. Great food, greater friends, loving family, and a world away from the fast track and a well deserved break. A little slice of home for a while.
