When one imagines a college spring break, they may think of roaring parties on Californian beaches, not going home. The reality is that most college students (who don't live in warm or tropical climates) don't get the vacation of their dreams. Many end up going home and experiencing the many realities that come with returning to old high school stomping grounds. The experience tends to go as follows...
1. Relief.
Finals or midterms are over and you can finally breathe a little. All the stress has been lifted and you have a little over a week of freedom in front of you.
2. Excitement.
You're going to see your parents and they are going to cook for you and you are going home to your bed and free laundry and friends from high school and home is the best.
3. Apprehension.
But then you remember that high school was not actually that great and maybe this week won't be as good as the old times. But it will be OK. If anything, you will just binge watch Netflix all week.
4. Content.
You are home and have slept in past 10 a.m. on a week day for the first time in awhile. Your mom probably has made you a home cooked meal at some point and you can just sit and watch TV on a screen bigger that a computer.
5. Shock.
You begin to ask yourself, "Was this really what it was like in high school?" You have to censor your language and cook for yourself. You also are blown away by the fact that you are in a house or apartment completely alone... And it's actually a bit freaky.
6. Utter Boredom.
You've reconnected with old friends, seen your family, and caught up on your T.V. shows that finals make you skip out on... And it's only the third day of break. There is nothing to do because your parents are at work and your siblings are at school because your breaks aren't on the same schedule. There. Is. Nothing. To. Do.
7. Grief.
It's day five of 10 and all of the shock and boredom and school-sickness has finally hit you like a brick. You miss all of your school friends so much to the point that all you want to do is cry. You pick up the phone and send them a text telling them how ready you are for break to be over... And they text right back saying how they feel the same way. Bless their souls.
8. Optimism.
You have made it past the halfway point and know that if you've made it this far, the rest of the week will be a breeze. Just make it through the weekend and you are golden.
9. Exhaustion.
By the end of the week, all of the "trying to find something to do" has caught up to you and all you want to do is sleep it away until break is over. And lucky you, because all the big events for the week are, of course, at the end of the break. So-- power through and let the sheer exhaustion set in, you can sleep when you get in the car to go back to school.
10. Bittersweet.
The week has ended and you are leaving to go back to school. Leaving your family and those few old friends behind can be sad. They will miss you and you will miss them, but it feels good to be getting back to the normalcy of your life.
11. Pure joy.
Those moments you walk back into to your second home and see your friends again makes you smile until your face is sore. So give them a big hug and let them know how much you missed all of their beautiful faces. Because they sure as hell missed you too.
