Sometimes, you just don't want school to ever end. And going home on breaks can sometimes be a much needed respite, but can also be really boring.
Whether you're staying on campus during break because of a sport, living too far away to go home, or for some other reason, there's some things you're going to want to know.
Campus clears out fast
Most of the breaks at my school start on Tuesday, with everyone who isn't approved to stay out by 9 p.m. But that's not usually an issue. People start leaving as early as the weekend. As the week goes by, campus centers normally full of people are empty. Once mid-afternoon hits, campus buildings and streets will feel like ghost towns.
It’s mostly athletes left
I live in a big on-campus apartment building with seven floors. With an elevator -- possibly the best part, no joke. Normally during the semester, my trips up and down in the elevator are uneventful and by myself. Maybe there's about one other person in it at a time. But during break, I swear that's when I had some of my fullest elevator rides. At one point, I went down with half of one of the sports teams. It was just me, standing no more than mid-chest height on them, looking up at them all.
It can get lonely… or the exact opposite
But then there's the chance for it to get wild. No one's around, but you might be fortunate enough for who's left to be a few friends. I had my fair share of loneliness when I stayed, but I also had the times where I stayed at one of my friend's apartment until 2 a.m. I had another friend who stayed at her off-campus apartment during breaks. In the past she spent the whole time day drinking with another friend of hers. That's not necessarily the best plan either, but it's an option.
I hope you can feed yourself
Because feeding yourself is all on you. It's fine for upperclassmen -- at my school -- where we typically live in apartment buildings. But for freshmen, and anyone in more traditional college housing. Dining halls and all those services close up. Why stay open if most of campus is gone?
You might have to apply to stay
Why would you have to apply to stay in a room you've already paid way too much many for? I don't know. Maybe because colleges are many hungry? There'll be a deadline set out where you have to fill out a brief application to stay. At my school they just ask why you have to stay. They also make it sound like they're very picky on who's allowed to stay. I don't think they are though, at least not for upperclassmen. Still, you can't forget to apply. At my school, you could get charged a large late fee. Or if you don't apply at all and stay, everytime you scan into your building, you get charged. So, more fees!
Staying on campus during break was a weird experience. I survived the ghost haunting my apartment, binged some "2 Broke Girls" and accomplished nearly none of my work. I'm excited to go home for Thanksgiving break as I'm eagerly counting down the days left, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't stay on campus again.
If it's something you find yourself doing in your time at college, it can be a great time. It definitely helps to do it with a friend at your side and a healthy dose of motivation to get the work you probably have done. But then, that's most of college too.
