The day is officially December 26th at 2:06 a.m., and I am not on my twin bed in my New York City dorm; I am in my actual room at home back in Maryland listening to the "Hannah Montana: Meet Miley Cyrus" album... a classic. As one can presume from the title and intro, yes I have been home in Maryland, which is 15-20 minutes down the road from Washington D.C., for the holiday break. I go to school at LIM in the heart of the always moving and upbeat New York City. While it's great and I do miss it a lot and cannot wait to return, being home relaxing with family and friends and most importantly my own bed has been great. Being home is awesome, but weeks into the month-long break students are given, we tend to start missing school piece by piece... and not school as in work, but school as in freedom.

Pros of Being Home:

1. FREE FOOD... Or food that doesn't have to come out of your debit/credit card: Ah, the feeling of coming home to a fridge full of food is possibly a Christmas present in itself and the fact that I can actually use my money on Urban's 40% off clearance sale and NOT overpriced New York City groceries, yes please.

2. MY OWN BED AND MY OWN ROOM: The ability to be able to sleep in a room dedicated to you, meaning: Your control over the lights, your control over what time to wake up at, your control over where your stuff is, and the ability to sleep in a bed that was not sized to fit a toddler... Literally over break, anyone can catch me at either the gym or my bed, goodnight.

3. BEST FRIEND: Saying goodbye to my family for college was a So Long Farewell, Sound of Music moment, but saying goodbye to my best friend before moving to New York was like Rose watching Jack freeze in the cold Arctic waters (There was totally enough room for Jack on that door by the way). Being with your best friend is the most enjoyable experience in anyones life, but being reunited with them is the best feeling like finally, my type of person that I can be completely be 1000% a freak and weird around.

4. Okay, wait I kinda missed family: Okay so as soon as I started typing this title, I Miss You by Miley came on, woah family is weird. But yes, I indeed missed my family quite a bit, especially my grandmother who stayed in Maryland from Egypt till the end of January just for me *Cries eyelashes off*

5. MY GYM: Health and fitness are very important to me, I go to the gym six days a week, whether it is at Gold's Gym back home or the gym in my dorm building, but Gold's is where it's at, sorry LIM.

Cons of Being Home:

1. "You Look So Skinny": As an 18-year-old, almost 19-year-old who has been trying to bulk up and gain muscle, that is the LAST thing I want to hear.

2. There is kind of nothing to do in the suburbs: Yeah I grew up here so options for fun are the usually limited to... the local mall.

3. I MISS MY FREEDOM: I'm not saying just because I am a college student and more of an adult that I can go out on my own, buy my own house and start a family, but my parents should know that if I can handle living in New York City, school and getting good grades, I can be treated a little more like an adult, especially when all I am doing is running to the grocery store to pick up Almond Milk. C'mon, I will be home when I get home, you do not have to stay up and wait for me, enjoy your sleep and if I need you, mom or dad, I will call you guys.

4. Being home is almost like a promotional tour: Not to sound cocky, but being home from college gives this vibe where it is like everybody in town needs to see you whether you've known them your whole life or known them for your last week in your hometown before college. Yes it is nice to see people and it is kinda sweet, but I need my chill time to my favorite person who goes by the name Me, Myself and I

5. Close minded, boring, suburban people: I moved to the city to truly be surrounded by an atmosphere of my kind: Positivity and Open Mindedness. Being stared at head to toe (and not the good stare) when I walk into the mall with my Rihanna Puma Creepers and long trench coat, a cute outfit, looking like I have eight heads is kinda annoying, a very "no pictures please" moment. New York, you can be whoever you want, and you can be yourself as most as you want and that is what I cannot wait to be back in.

Yes, there are pros and cons of being home for Winter Break, but hey, this break is to relax with family and enjoy the holidays which I have done and which I will continue to do. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Very Happy Holidays!