Freshman year is a wild ride of emotions for new college students. It is the start of your own journey and personal discoveries. The school work is amplified, the location is new, and the only home you ever knew is farther away. Pressure builds up to succeed and finals week is the definition of stress.

So what is it we all look forward to the most? Two words: winter break. It brings the promise of family, friends, and home. You can temporarily forget college and all the homework you had. You can finally enjoy the life around you - the one you have grown familiar with for so long.

As students, we spend our time studying our brains out, reaching for that 4.0 with everything we have, and succeeding through every subject. We begin to morph into little studying machines during finals week. Winter break in the distance, being our saving grace.

As a freshman, I wasn’t prepared for how tiring this workload would be. I skated through high school without a worry, but college is a whole new game. Studying is needed, and the energy it takes from you is 10 times more than what it used to be.

My winter break is my recharge.

After I get my days worth of sleep/naps, I get to spend my time catching up with all my family and friends, telling them stories of my new life while intertwining memories from my old life. I also get to travel to my favorite destinations and view the Christmas decorations. The holidays are upon us and a new year just around the corner.

Everything is how it should be.

Of course, I know I will miss the new friends I made at college. I have spent days with people from all over the world, building relationships that will last a lifetime. However, my old life will never leave me.

Winter break is a blessing sent from above.

And, warm weather/summer break can’t come soon enough.