January — a dreaded month for many a college student across this nation. Why? Because January marks the return to classes from Winter Break.
January — a glorious month for many a college student across this nation. Why? Because January marks the return to classes from Winter Break.
No, you're not going crazy. These sentences are nearly the same. But, this return to school may make you feel as though you are. Returning to school after a long break brings along conflicting feelings for most college students, myself included. We all know that we love our free time (and hate returning to classwork and homework) but let's take a look at the reasons why our emotions towards return are so bi-polar.
1. Sleep schedule
Winter break is an excellent time to catch up on sleep. The weather is terrible and you probably spent three straight days awake studying for finals before your drive home. SP now is the time to sleep, right? Well no you've slept yourself into a change in your biological clock. Yesterday, I woke up at noon and went to bed at 5 a.m. On a Tuesday. For no reason. This will not fly when I get back to school and have class at 8 a.m.
Why this makes me want to go back: I would actually like to participate in "real life" with "normal hours." I spend several hours in the early morning alone because well, being out at 4 a.m. is kind of sketchy.
Why this makes me not want to go back: Re-acclimating myself to a normal sleep schedule will be hell, and honestly, I don't mind spending my days asleep. I like to sleep. Sleep is good. Can I go back to sleep now?
2. Friends
Going away to school usually means you now have two sets of friends: your friends from college and your friends from home. This results in a pretty tough situation in which you miss your hometown friends when at school and your school friends when you're at home.
Why this makes me want to go back: I can't wait to see my friends at school. Where I can talk about my professors, problems going on at the school and all of the things that my hometown friends don't understand.
Why this makes me not want to go back: I'll miss all my friends from home. I'll miss talking about memories from when we were kids, crazy high school stories and honestly even the hometown drama... that is until the next break when I'll be tired of it again.
3. On-Campus Job
If you're like me and have an on-campus job, you know the wonders of not having to do that job over break. It's nice to have employment that you get to take a vacation from every few months, but it also sucks to get paid less than federal minimum wage.
Why this makes me want to go back: I didn't realize how much having a job kept me busy, not working has left me with more free time than I know what to do, which leads to Netflix binging and unusual amounts of sleep. Also, despite the fact that my yearly salary may put me below the poverty line, I never realized how much that money came in handy.
Why this makes me not want to go back: While I know getting back to work (and class) will be good for me, and my wallet. I can't help but wonder what life would be like if I never had to work again. (Praying for the Powerball!!) After a while not working I did start to pick up some extra hobbies and activities.
4. Living arrangements
Living at home for a month has brought some interesting thoughts to mind. Most of them have been along the lines of "Dear God I need to find my own place to live." and "How in the hell did I live here for 18 years?" However, being back at home has also made me realize how much my parents do for me, and how much I've counted on them before now.
Why this makes me want to go back: Finally! My freedom is back! I can stay out as late as I want, and sleep as late as I’d like to the day after will no comments or complaints from my parents. No one telling me “Don’t speed!” or “Wear your seat belt!” When I leave to go out for the night.
Why this makes me not want to go back: It’s actually quite nice to know that someone cares enough for me to not speed or to wear my seatbelt when I’m driving. Also, having someone make sure I don’t waste half of my day with sleeping or that I’m home a reasonable hour isn’t really that bad. On second thought, maybe I should be doing that for myself.
5. Food
Going back to school means going back to having dorm food, and the food in my college town versus the food I get at home. For some, this is a welcome change. For others, nothing will ever beat family dinners around the dining room table.
Why this makes me want to go back: The options for eating out in my college town are exponentially larger than those in my hometown. For example, Jimmy John's. Do I really need to give more reasons?
Why this makes me not want to go back: Nothing will ever beat Momma's spaghetti and Italian beef. Plus, the hometown restaurant's where people know your name and usual order can't be replaced some chain sandwich shop. (I promise I still love you, Mr. John).
6. Social
Socially, being home for winter break is a blast… for about the first two weeks. After that “honeymoon” phase of seeing all you high school friends, and people you haven’t seen since graduation, you realize that you have long outgrown high school parties and bonfires in your buddy’s backyard. Also, those last weeks or so when your friends start gradually going back to school seems like time is frozen.
Why this makes me want to go back: Let’s be honest, college parties are awesome. Even the smallest house party or night at the college bar is one hundred times better than any party any of us ever attended in high school. (Unless somehow you went to some crazy Project X-type event). Even on the weekdays, there’s always some kind of event happening on campus that you could use as an excuse to not do your studies for the night.
Why this makes me not want to go back: Let’s be honest, nothing will replace the stupid things you did for fun in high school. The small high school parties with ten people in a cornfield, or sitting in a parking lot on a Wednesday night. These times and places can never be replaced by anything in college.
8. The Return
The return to school — the actual, physical return — is another part of the end of break that I both dread and welcome. Traveling from my home to my school is an interesting experience: packing up everything I took home, picking up friends from the airport, and driving up I-55 along with all of the other people traveling from home to school is a touching lesson in this duality.
Why this makes me want to go back: I love driving. It gives me ample time to think about my life and jam out to all my favorite tunes. Also, packing up all my things to bring back to school really makes me think about how much I have, and how much I really don’t need. That bulging suitcase is truly a sign of my materialism.
Why this makes me not want to go back: Moving back into the dorms is a shining example of college bureaucracy. Why is there a required time for me to move into the place I’ve already lived for half of a year? This “hurry up and wait” schedule makes moving back so much more stressful than it needs to be. Also, physically moving all my things upstairs and finding places for all of my material items in a way too small dorm room is stressful.
Whether we want to or not, we must all return to our respective schools for the spring semester. The drive back to school is the perfect metaphor for the duality of emotions I feel about returning to college. For the first half of that drive back I’ll be sad to once again leave my parents, my childhood home and my hometown friends. However, the second half of that ride will be filled with excitement to see my friends, brothers and even some of my favorite professors. Sure, I will occasionally think of my friends at home, or miss my hometown a bit, but I wouldn’t trade this college experience for anything!
