Winter break may be fun for some, but for an increasing amount of students across the country its a time to dread just as much as finals week. This is my reaction when people tell me I'll be able to relax:
1. Winter Break isn't a break.
When I come home for break, sure, its better than winter break in high school. You get almost a month off, teachers can't assign homework, and Christmas presents are approaching fast. But what about the dread of next semester? Or how 75% of the Christmas money you just received is going to be funneled to capitalistic companies that are price gouging? Not to mention all of the following reasons that winter break is stressful.
2. Exhausting familial interactions.
Every family has the racist aunt, uncle, dad, or cousin. For some reason they deem it appropriate to talk politics while munching on the Christmas ham. All the meanwhile they are claiming Obama is a Muslim and Bernie Sanders is a socialist. Source?? In the meanwhile, you're the marginalized party. 
How's college going? Don't ask. What's your GPA? Stop. What's your major? Please, I beg you. Do you like your classes? Do you like being so annoying all the time? Are you and your boyfriend still together? Yes, Aunt Susan. Do you guys have an apartment? Maybe if it was your business, you'd know. How long have you been together? One day, we're already having a kid and I'm dropping out of college to pursue my dream of becoming a starving artist!
3. WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK.
I'm feeling particularly salty about this topic right now. Making money is nice. It would be nicer if the money I made didn't go straight to my loans that I have to pay to receive my right to higher education. It would also be nice if work wasn't so shitty or if I didn't dread going in every night. It would even be nice if the reason that I have overtime wasn't to cover other people's bullshit reasons for calling out.
4. Because of work and family time, don't expect time for yourself.
Everything that you wanted to do during break is going to be put on hold. Netflix shows will go unwatched and you to-be-read pile will only grow when you get books for Christmas. Not having "me time" is what makes break so stressful, because isn't that the point of vacation?
