By this point, most every college is back in session for the spring semester. This means students have survived winter break! For me, it was a little more difficult than anticipated, but it also made me realize some things.

Going to college was a complete life change for me. Not that my parents didn't let me go places and have different experiences, but I have so much more freedom in college than I have ever experienced at home. I get to go wherever I want to go, hang out with my friends at any time of day or night, make my own choices, and be responsible for myself. It's amazing.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my family like crazy, and being home was very relaxing. It was nice to spend lots of time with my little sister and get some quality time in with my grandparents. I didn't have to call my mom if I had a question for her, I was just able to talk to her when she got home from work. This free time was nice, but it wasn't really as "free" as I have become accustomed to.

It was a bit of a difficult transition to come back home and be accountable to my parents. Where was I going? Who would be there? What time would I be home? It better be before 11:30. Whose car was I going to drive? It was hard to return to how things were in high school and not just keep living my life (sort of) like an adult.

Living on my own is a totally different world than living with my parents, and frankly, it's one that I like better. Sometimes though, I struggle with the freedom that college offers. It's nice to be home and not have to worry about what you're doing the next weekend — you can just ask your mom. You actually have to wash that dirty mug in your room from three days ago because someone tells you to. Plus, it's kind of hard to get out of the habits of telling someone where you are going every time you leave the house (or dorm). Most of the time, you don't realize how much others do for you until you are on your own and have to do it yourself.

What I have learned this winter break is that it's a different story to live being accountable to only yourself versus being accountable to someone else. When you are on your own, you don't have to work around other people's schedules, and you don't have responsibilities assigned to you because you have to assign them to yourself. But there are downsides because you really do have to be responsible to make sure everything gets done on time, and you have to do everything for yourself.

I've always been decently responsible for myself, but college made me realize that there were still many things that I didn't have to worry about before being on my own. But, after six weeks of being home and less free, I'm ready to go back to school. Checking in once or twice a day instead of before and after everywhere I go is going to be nice, but I will miss the relaxation of not having to do everything for myself. Moral of the story is, appreciate what others help you with, and be sure to thank them for what they do while also keeping up with your responsibilities.