What was harder? Rallying seven days straight when our bodies were about to give up on us, or getting through the post-spring break depression once we finally got home? Obviously the latter.
The following are the stages of pos-PV depression, according to Modern Family:
1. The feeling of pride. We made it out alive and couldn't be more proud of ourselves. We gathered with our friends in the airport and recalled the best parts of the week, thanking our lucky stars that we are on our way back to State College.
2. The first time reality hits. Our excitement to get a good night's sleep in our own beds begins to fade as the plane starts descending. It finally hits us that tomorrow, we will not be starting the day with breakfast on the water or partying with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
3. When sadness and disbelief strike. Then you land and have to go through customs. The line is long, and the people are rude. All you want is to be lounging poolside without a care in the world, and you can't believe that the trip of your life is actually over.
4. The second time reality hits: the first morning home. The first morning was definitely the hardest. Rather than waking up to a beautiful view of Mexico and starting
the day off with an omelet and whatever that blue drink was, you are back at Penn State where you have to make your own breakfast and do real-people things.
5. The second night. The first night wasn't too hard, because we passed out the second our heads hit the pillow, but the second night was filled with remorse. Not only did we have classes to worry about the next day, but it was finally sinking in that this time two nights ago, we were having the time of our lives at La Santa, a place which we will never return to.
6. The first day of classes. Going to classes on the first day back was utterly pointless. All we could manage to do was daydream about break and try not to let the sound of our professors' voices put us to sleep.
7. Storytelling. Along with the first day of classes came seeing friends who didn't have the pleasure of going to PV. Of course they all wanted to hear stories, but we were not quite ready to accept the fact that the trip was really over, so we avoided these conversations at all costs.
8. The first social. You are very hopeful that the first social since returning home will help you overcome your post-spring break depression, but this is not the case. How could a social ever live up to the standards set by La Santa, or even Vamar's rooftop bar?
9. Hopelessness. You are starting to lose all hope, and are worried that Penn State will never be as great as it was prior to PV. You have come to the conclusion that the only solution to finally overcome this post-spring break depression is to completely cut all ties with PV and lock up all of your incredible memories in a part of your brain that you will never access again. Not looking back truly seems like the only way to stop missing it.
10. The first outside daylong of the year. You finally see the light at the end of the tunnel during the first outside daylong of the year. You are reminded of what made you fall in love with this school, and the stars seem to realign. PV was undoubtedly the greatest week of your life thus far, but you finally realize that there are more great things to come. And until they do, at least we can all enjoy daylong season.
