If you’re anything like me, your hometown was the last place you wanted to be this spring break. Yet, somewhere between enviously scrolling through my friends’ beach-side Insta posts and clicking the “yes I'm still watching Netflix” button, I realized a week at home isn’t so bad after all. If you're still in need of some convincing that your spring break wasn’t a total dud, I promise you’ll be with me after eight short reasons.
1. Congratulations, you saved money!
As great as Florida, Cancun, and Hawaii sound, they also sound a lot like emptying all the change out of your pockets. For anyone who’s done spring break before, you know just as well as I do that your estimated costs for the week always end up being doubled; and you always head home wondering how you’ll be able to afford life next semester.
2. Home cooked meals
Yummy, free, and placed on the table at your convenience. I don’t know about you, but there’s not much better than mom’s homemade lasagna or dad’s famous breakfast. After a term of dining halls, Ramen, and forking out cash for Chipotle, food becomes much more valuable than any bikini bod.
3. Sleep (in your own bed)
Because what is more important than naps? After pulling all too frequent all-nighters studying, partying or binge watching Netflix, sleep is the one thing all college kids love but don’t get nearly enough of. Anyone in college knows that if you want good grades as well as a social life, you have no choice but to sacrifice pillow time. Therefore, spring break should be used for nothing other than hibernation. Time to catch up on all that sleep you missed out on and prepare for the hectic term ahead.
4. Sprint break...for your liver
And you thought you were struggling… imagine how your poor liver feels. Instead of binge drinking everyday this break, only to continue to destroy your already suffering liver, maybe a “timeout” is more suitable. Without the stress of school, the need to slam shots is dramatically decreased and you won’t have the peer pressure from your friends to go out. Thus after a week without alcohol, your liver will be happy and ready to go hard the first weekend back, while all of your friends will be drained from sun exposure and tequila shots.
5. Family time
As your time at college continues, holidays quickly turn into the only time you get to see your family. Yes, they may be crazy, argue all the time and embarrass you beyond belief; but they are the one group of people who will always love you unconditionally. Yes, your friends at college are great, but there’s just something special about quality time with the fam. C’mon, as much as they drive you nuts… You know you missed them.
6. To see your dogs
Possibly the most important reason to come home for break: TO SEE YOUR DOGS. Can we all agree that the one thing that would make college that much better is if you could bring your dog? Let's be real, I highly doubt any beach will be as excited to see you as your pup will.
7. Free souvenirs to bring back to school
Being home often goes along with boredom, which often results in going through all of the old things in your room. Who would have thought you still had that jean skirt you wore to the sixth-grade sock-hop, your favorite stuffed animal and that photo album. Never mind the tan lines, a dose of nostalgia is on this week’s agenda.
8. You have a place to call home
Thanks to social media, we often feel as if every single person we know is going on some extravagant spring break trip. But it’s important to remember those individuals who are not posting every second of their lives on Instagram, most likely because they don’t even own an iPhone or laptop in the first place. We must remember all the people in the world who are struggling each day just to stay alive; those who wake up each morning not knowing if they will have food to eat and a place to lay their head that night. We must remember those who are not fortunate enough to have a home to come home to, and a family who loves and supports them. We must remember those who would do anything to be able to spend a week in a warm house accompanied with food and comfort. So although you may not be sporting a tan or checking off your bucket list upon returning to school, I promise you endured a vacation that no amount of money can buy, a vacation of going home; a “vacation” that so many dream of.
