Being away at school really forces college kids to become what we often call “real people.” There’s always a different degree of this dreaded togetherness — whether it is simply functioning to perform for classes, interning or finding a full fledged job. Generally, we wake up every day and before we return to our sacred beds, we accomplish something that brings us one step closer to being “real people.” Returning home to a month or so of zero responsibilities really elicits our inherent desires.
1. Eating unhealthily. In my humble opinion, it’s actually much easier to eat healthily at school. Quite bluntly, the food is worse. Splurging on bland baked goods and hardly edible pizza just isn’t as tempting as your mom’s homemade deserts and your favorite restaurant's dishes. With all of the proposed lunch dates with friends, the order-in-nights, home-cooked meals and truly the best bagel store in the nation right around the corner… Eating too much of the wrong things is far more tempting at home than it is at school.
2. Sleeping in unreasonably late… or really sleeping all of the time in general. After studying all day to drinking all night — or vise versa — a semester at school leaves you crawling onto your doorstep in a relatively zombie-like state. Your bed at home is that much harder to get out of in the morning, and once you’re finally up, you remember how luxurious naps are on your living room couch. Basically, you want to sleep everywhere at all times because you finally can.
3. Shopping too much. Your school is near some of your favorite stores, but they’re not quite the same. Maybe it’s missing your favorite local boutique, or maybe the store you frequent doesn’t have the same deals, or if you’re a Jersey girl out of state, you’re missing no sale’s tax. Whatever it is, being home (often with different access to money as well) has a toxic way of convincing you that you need a million new things.
4. Texting that person… or calling him or showing up at his house. I’ve definitely seen it all. It’s easy to gain perspective when away. You meet people who show you what you were missing. You have time and distance to reflect without the influence of that home-person’s poison. You move on. But then you get home and the roads remind you of all those times with him. You find little leftovers of him around your house. People are asking about him and you just feel weird in that setting without him. Put your phone down. Seriously, you’ve come too far to revert back now.
5. Being sloppy. Your room at school is pristine because you have a roommate who wouldn’t appreciate it otherwise. Not to mention, strangers pass by all of the time, people stop in every day, and it’s just easier to manage less space when it’s organized. There is too much room at home to spew your clothes across the floor. At school you’re inclined to shower, do your hair and makeup, and dress “like a person.” At home…not so much. Who are you gonna see, right?
6. Rebuilding a bridge just to go to a party. This one’s pretty self explanatory. You probably lost touch with that girl you only talked to in class, right? So, she’s probably not inviting you to her parties anymore. That’s OK. Parties kind of stop being a thing, and they’re typically smaller get-togethers with close friends. Let it be.
7. Becoming dependent on parents again… for rides when you’re drunk, to bring you water in the living room, to pick up after you, to do your laundry. The fun goes on and on. You do it at school without a second thought because your best friend sure as hell isn’t cleaning up your mess and you definitely can’t reuse underwear. But if your mom’s offering, it’s definitely hard to say no to.
8. Neglecting to remember that you still have a whole other life at school. It becomes jaded sometimes and turns into something you kind of want to forget once you get home. Don’t get sucked into that. What you have is good, although often overwhelming after four tireless months of nothing but it. Your roommates, your significant other, your school work, your social life. It’s all day every day, and some of it gets to be too much. But it’s good. and you’re lucky to have it. You shouldn’t let it burn out over break.
9. Being too lazy to reach out… or reaching out but giving up because schedules conflicted once or twice. If there’s a friend trying to see you — a friend you missed, a friend who was good to you, a friend who you’d be better off always having — then make sure you see him or her. You’re getting older, so it gets harder. Schedules clash, parties aren’t bringing everyone together and people have jobs. See your friends. It only takes one day for the best ones, and it makes all of the difference in the world in the long run.
10. Never leaving your pet’s side… because it’s so cute, it loves you so much and you missed it. You missed that unconditional adoration. It is your partner for any errand and the only organism that genuinely wants nothing but to make you happy. This one’s OK. Don’t leave your pet’s side. I promise it’s missed you.
It’s unbelievable how quickly your life changes drastically over the weeks, months and years away at college. But typically, these temptations are pretty stagnant.
