Winter break is supposed to be amazing, right? I feel like I've been counting down the days to it since September. I couldn't wait for Christmas, good food, and time to relax. However, the reality is that vacation really isn't all it's cracked up to be.

So far, my winter break has consisted of working, getting sick, watching too much Netflix, and more work. While binge-watching Mr. Robot has been fun, I'd imagined spending my free time a little better than that. And working sounded great, because as a broke college student, making money is a wonderful idea. But I'd forgotten how stressful working actually is, and how much I hate it.

I've also come to realize that because I've had the pleasure of not getting sick at school, the universe decided I should just be sick every day I'm home. Maybe it's because I'm around a lot more people now that I'm working again. Whatever the reason, I'm almost constantly sick and it's not fun.

I see a lot of other people complaining about the same things. Working is terrible, being sick is even worse, and it seems like we have less time to ourselves than we did while at school. Of course there have been good points - Christmas was great, and any food that doesn't come from a dining hall is very appreciated.

I've had a lot of people tell me I'd miss school during break; that I'd be dying to go back. While I do hate a lot of what I've dealt with so far, I'm still not at the point of missing school. But I know a lot of people who are. They can't wait to get back to their friends, their roommates, and yes, even their classes. That is something I don't quite understand, but can appreciate. Maybe their break has been really bad.

Maybe you're in that position. It's pretty confusing, because you probably love being home and around family, but feel torn because you miss school. And that's okay. It's okay to miss your friends at school, and your classes, and maybe even the food (probably not the food.) If you'd been excited for winter break and now feel as if it's not that great, it totally makes sense. Seeing your friends from high school and spending time with family is amazing, but it doesn't have to last forever.

When we all go back to school, we'll probably be missing home not too long after. We'll daydream about home-cooked meals, and wish we had more time for Netflix than studying. That's just how it goes; it's an endless cycle of not knowing where you really want to be. It's confusing and annoying, but it's life.

So, do what you can now. Make the most of what's left of your vacation. See all of your friends, watch every show you want, and work hard. And when you get back to school, enjoy the fact that you're there. Second semester could be tough, but don't worry too much. Spring break is right around the corner.