Everyone loves the holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years… There’s just something about this time of year that brings everyone together and makes people more excited. It’s a season of love, giving, family, and appreciation. Unless you’re a college student. Then, well, it gets a little more complicated.

1. Nobody wants to walk to early classes in the cold weather.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m kind of a weenie. I get way too cold easily, and I prefer the warmth of my bed even more in the morning, right before class to be precise. There is no easy way for me to find any sort of motivation to wake up at 7 in the morning, layer my body with thick clothing, and trudge against the cold winds to class. It’s absolutely awful.

2. I can’t afford gifts. At all.

There are so many people that deserve so much. My mom deserves the world, and really, all I can afford is a nice pair of socks. If I’m lucky. My friends deserve new cars and endless food supplies, but maybe I can only get them each is a mug. Or something. I don’t even know. Typically, I spend all of my money on Christmas gifts for my family and friends, and I still feel like I’m not getting anyone what they truly deserve.

3. Taking food home is a terrible struggle.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas, my mom makes a ton of food. I make a ton of food too, and there’s ALWAYS way too much left over. It isn’t uncommon for mom to pack half of it up for me to take back to school. Unfortunately, I don’t have room in my tiny dorm fridge, I don’t have sponges to clean out the tupperware when it’s gone, and then the bowls and tupperware pile up until I go back home. There isn’t enough room anywhere in the dorms for food during the holidays, but being able to eat turkey and green bean casserole surely beats ramen noodles.

4. The baggage from the extra-thick clothes sucks to lug around.

Coming home for the holidays, I only bring what’s necessary. Unfortunately, for the holidays, what’s necessary is a little more than what is necessary during the warmer seasons. Instead of a few pairs of shorts and a couple shirts, I need mittens, stocking hats, scarves, thick long sleeve shirts, jackets, coats, jeans, maybe leggings, sweats, socks, and boots. This is not easy for me to carry, especially being a female and having makeup and a straightener and everything else. It’s just miserable to pack and unpack and lug everything around.

5. Driving becomes ten times more dangerous.

My drive to and from home and school is four hours both ways. If it’s rainy, that’s difficult enough for someone to drive through for that long. But when it’s snowy and icy, it’s even worse. You have to slow down and be careful, so it takes a lot longer to get to your destination. It’s terrible to even attempt to pump gas because you miserably stand there shivering. The roads become murder zones. Need I say more?

6. All the best things become terrible.

I love walking downtown and sitting outside and eating. Unless it’s freezing. Then, the walk becomes longer, the outside eating isn’t an option, and then I’m stuck walking back. Since driving is impossible and walking around downtown officially sucks during the cold seasons, it takes all the fun out of being downtown. I can’t happily wade through the fountain (unless I’m cool with getting sick) or even go on a bike ride unless I’m also cool with getting sick. Speaking of getting sick…

7. Getting sick is the absolute WORST.

I used to love getting sick when I was a kid. Missing class was the best feeling, and being excused for homework? Even better. But us college students don’t get that luxury. If you get sick, not only do you NOT have motivation to walk to class simply because it’s cold, but now you’re miserably sick. There’s nothing worse about college than having to walk to class sick when it’s freezing out. If you’re extra unlucky, like myself, you end up getting so sick that you have to miss class. This causes the teachers to think you’re irresponsible half the time, you miss most assignments, and then you miss quizzes as well. Sometimes, you miss other things such as club or fraternity events. It just sucks.

8. Just when you thought parking was already bad, it gets worse.

Parking sucks regardless what time of year it is. Parking during the holiday seasons, though, is even suckier. People (like myself...oops) are more willing to drive a few blocks than walk and pay for a parking meter. Just because it’s cold, and it avoid a little fraction of getting sick I guess.

Though some aspects of the holidays seem stressful, there’s nothing that can beat being cuddled up in a warm blanket drinking hot beverages and enjoying time with your loved ones. Despite the super awful things college students have to put up with this time of year, I must admit, it’s well worth it.