Now that winter break is in full swing for many students, high school and college alike, we've had ample time to reflect on the little things in life that make being at home better than being at school. For some, being home with their family is what matters the most. For others, it is the release from the stresses of schoolwork. For many, it is a balance between the two. Here are six reasons why many students enjoy being home on break.
1. Toilet paper
Single-ply is not going to fly!
2. Home-cooked meals
Dining service tries to serve you potatoes with every meal and you aren't sure how many times that chicken sitting behind the counter has been reheated.
3. Going out to eat
You try to escape the caf but you can't because you are #broke. At least at home your parents will buy you lunch.
4. Your own bed
Goodbye, squeaky twin mattress. Hello, queen pillow top with warm blankets and an obscene number of pillows.
5. Privacy
At school, privacy doesn't exist and people are constantly coming in and out of your room. At home, your parents are a work and your siblings are at school so you can read that Percabeth fanfiction in peace.
6. Having little to no responsibility
The only lifting I'll be doing is lifting food into my mouth while binge-watching "Jessica Jones" on Netflix.
7. Seeing your pets
Some say that dogs are man's best friend. I agree with that. Our pets give us comfort and love us unconditionally. Plus, you know they won't judge you for staying in your pajamas all day.
8. Not having to share a bathroom with 20+ people
I don't think that anyone will miss sinks clogged with hair and unknown food bits and wearing flip flops in the shower. At home, you can brush your teeth in peace, knowing that you won't have to hear someone vomiting in the stall behind you.
9. Catching up with old friends
Your high school friends have seen it all. They know your deepest, darkest secrets from junior high and they remember what you looked like when you had braces and insisted on spiking your hair every day. You might not be as close with them as you used to, but it is nice to catch up and get out of the house.
10. No homework
After stressing for weeks and weeks about final projects and exams, you are done. No homework for a month. If you have younger siblings that are still in school while you are on break, you most likely laugh at them every time they complain about having homework. I know I do.
11. A break from unnecessary drama
Whether your roommate ate the last of your pizza rolls the night, you skipped dinner, or something even more sinister, the end of the semester always brings drama. After spending over three months with the same people, problems are going to arise. Winter break is a time to forget their transgressions and go into the spring semester with a clean slate.
12. A properly regulated thermostat
At school, the dorms and classrooms are either as freezing as the Arctic or as hot as Hades, and there seems to be no in-between. At home, your parents probably care about the temperature as much as you do so there is no worrying about freezing to death or melting away.
