Finally, we made it through another heck of a semester. With its own version of ups and downs there is nothing quite like being at school for three months with people as crazy as you are. But with the end of the semester comes going home for a month and being home for the holidays. Coming home is both a great and sad time that deserves to be recognized as one of the best months of the year.

Everyone is always excited to go home for the month break. It is often the first time in months that many of us have seen our families. But it is also a time where we can finally beg for all the things we are wayyy to poor to afford, like gift cards to our favorite off campus restaurants or to where we do our grocery shopping.

Being home for the holidays means we get to run into all of the people we went to high school with and try to make small talk because you feel obligated to hold a conversation with them even though you haven't talked to each other since either graduation or the last awkward encounter that brought you all together. The awkward conversation topics can range from "how's college treating you," to "are you and (enter ex's name here) still together?" And I honestly think we all know how awkward those conversations can get after a few minutes.

For most of us it also means being surrounded by the only people who will always love us unconditionally, no matter how many mistakes we make, our pets. And our families too but I mean our families understand what we do and can judge us for it. It's our pets that have no idea what we do and will still cuddle up next to us at night.

Obviously, I'm kidding though. At least to me, and I'm sure plenty of others, my family is the people that make going through the craziness of a semester at college worth all of the trouble. All the tears, all the late nights, all the times I contemplated if dropping out might be a better option than stressing over the exam I would have to take the next day, was all made worth it knowing that I would soon get to spend a month with the best people in my life. The only group of people who will always have my back and cheer me on when the whole world felt like they hoping I failed.

So, here's to being home for the holidays. Here's to the awkward conversations, the days that we spend in our high school jobs, and the time spent with our family. Thank you for coming just in time to prevent a mental breakdown and catch me right before catching a cold. Happy holidays and an even happier winter break to all.