The holiday season in college is a unique experience. As soon as we get back from Thanksgiving break the final frenzy sets in. Everyone is immersed in their notes and reading chapters from textbooks that they should have read months ago. We almost forget that Christmas is coming up but the decorations around campus are a constant reminder that the holidays are near.
We are used to watching almost every movie on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas, and now we have to make time to watch our favorites or catch whichever one is on when we have some free time. We are used to having the workload decrease less and less in high school, middle school and elementary school with the last few days consisting of parties with lots of food and holiday movies.
We are used to going to the mall every weekend spending countless hours searching for the perfect gifts for each member of our family and our friends. We would enjoy the decorations all throughout the mall and stop about halfway through our trip at the Starbucks to order our favorite holiday drink.
There is something indescribable about the holiday season because it has the ability to put everyone in a cheery mood no matter where you are. It's those moments in college when we sing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" at the top of our lungs at 2 a.m. during finals week because we can't take studying anymore. It's those moments in college when we make that trek to Magic Tree to have a photoshoot. It's those little moments in college that add up to create one heck of a Christmas season experience for us and helps fill the void of not being with your family.
It does suck that Secret Santa and other gift exchanges add up so quickly when we are broke college students. It does suck to leave your house after Thanksgiving break when you put up all of your Christmas decorations. It does suck that you cannot enjoy them until after your last final.
However, that monthlong break you get to reward yourself for making it through that first semester makes it all worth it. No homework. No papers. No studying of any kind for any tests. Zero worries.
Spending time apart from your family truly allows you to cherish every single moment you get with them. The holidays become more special. The traditions you have had since you were kid hold a special place in your heart and are ultimately thinking about them is what gets you through those finals.
