It seems like it was just the beginning of 2015, but somehow Thanksgiving has quickly approached us! That means it is time for the start of the holiday season, personally, my favorite time of year! It constantly smells like apple cinnamon candles, Christmas lights sparking on the houses, cheerful people, an of course the holiday music and movies. Who doesn't love this time of year?
This holiday season, however, will hold a special place in my heart. It is not until recently did I realize this will be my last holiday season as a student. Many of us have been lucky enough to fly or drive home for the holidays since we started college. When I look back I think it is something that we have taken for granted and not truly appreciate.
When looking back to freshmen year, we probably did not appreciate going home to our friends and families from our hometown as much as we do know as upper class-men, soon to graduate students. Some of you may have even dreaded going home and leaving your new found college friends behind. A month without your friends seemed like an eternity. I remember counting down the days until I got to see my best friends again. Home was nice, but college just sounded so much more fun. There were less rules and we can do whatever we want.
In this final year or two of college, however, we realize that this may be one of the last few holiday seasons where we get to go home and spend it with everyone we love. Once we graduate college, we cannot just fly home when we want because we now have real life responsibilities. As a senior, I am sad to think that this could be my last Thanksgiving home for a while. I, like many of us do not know what the future holds after college.
As I realize this, I am thankful that I get to go home this holiday season and spend it with my family and my friends. We should be especially thankful to spend this holiday season with our friends because none of us could end up in the same place. We may have survived college apart, but there is no telling what post grad life has in store for us. Unlike college, we can no longer takes spontaneous trips to each other’s college campuses or know exactly when we will be able to see each other again.
So take this as a reminder to appreciate and cherish the moments we have now with family, friends, and loved ones. Be thankful for the time you are able to spend at home this holiday season!
