The best part about the holidays is definitely seeing your family, but sometimes even I am at a lost for words with the questions they ask (if my family is reading this, I love you but you know I'm right). These are 5 questions you are going to hear if you're a college student coming home for break this holiday season.
1. How is school going?
To any family member this is a seemingly harmless question, they probably really do want to know how you're doing in school. The downside to this question is that EVERYONE asks this question. It is the go to question for all families, everywhere. Sure you could go into detail about the 20 page research paper you wrote, or about how hard you tried on that exam, but why? Why go into detail when you know you're just going to have to explain it again in 3 seconds.
2. What is your major again?
Another seemingly harmless question. In reality it really isn't THAT hard to say what your major is, unless they ask follow up questions, or if the title of your major is extremely long (Political Science with an emphasis on Democracy, Justice, and Civic Engagement with a minor in Sociology doesn't really roll of the tongue does it?"
3. What do you plan to do with *insert major here*
College is crazy enough, because honestly half of us barely know what we are doing tomorrow, let alone when we graduate. Especially if you really have no idea what you want to do. Yes I might know what my major is, and yes I probably have an idea of what i want to do with it, but honestly I'm just trying to pass this one class.
4. Do you miss me when you're at school?
This is honestly one of those questions I LOATHE. Of course I miss you, of course I miss home, of course I miss my hometown, but also love college. I love my friends and family I have made there and I can't tell you enough how much I enjoy my freedom while missing you so incredibly much.
5. Do you have a *boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, etc*
This is my favorite question out of all the questions I could ever be asked ever, especially if you're like me and perfectly happy being single. No I don't have a significant other, no I'm not trying to find one, yes I am approachable, but honestly I am so busy trying to get good grades, be a productive member of my community, and have a social life, that I have absolutely NO TIME to devote any time to another person. I barely have my life together let alone have time to help someone else get their life together.
As much as I love my family ( and I do incredibly much) around the holiday season those awkward small talk questions can really seem not only annoying, but repetitive. The best thing to remember is these questions (no matter how many time the same relative has asked you) come from love, and genuine concern.
