Like everyone else, I was counting down the days to spring break. Just thinking about the naps to be had if I could just get through this paper or that midterm exam. What I wasn’t prepared for was the crash-course in responsibility that I got.
My plans for spring break were to be with family and hang out with friends, basically just to take a breather from the stress and non-stop routine of school. The first parts were easy, but the last part, not so much.
This “break” is as much a learning experience as a class.
The first reality check I got was an acceptance/nomination for the study abroad program I applied to. Whereas I thought I had at least another week before I had to fill out more forms, I instead got more required documents and new orientations to put into my calendar.
When I got the news, I was more excited than annoyed; I mean the opportunity is well worth the trouble, even if I cringed at the sight of college-related emails. At that point, this new responsibility was still within my comfort zone: school.
It was when my dad mentioned that my car wasn’t sounding so good that my perspective shifted from college to “real life”. He put it into my head that I should start looking for a new car since we bought my current one quite used and have had it for about 5 years. So, I started looking.
This was a kind of stress that I haven’t experienced. I am extremely lucky to not be currently in debt for my education, but buying a car definitely isn’t within the abilities of my checkbook. So, along with the responsibility of potentially owning my own car comes with it the necessity of applying for a loan and planning insurance.
I never thought buying a car would be simple, but I didn’t realize that once I decided to do it, it would also be so much work. Because of this, my spring break started off with learning how to do expected things for people my age, or at least adults in general.
It’s a common thing to joke that “I can’t adult today,” but I felt that almost every day.
On top of the financial and important changes happening in my life, one of my best friends is married and pregnant, and very close to her due date. Thinking about the reality of my life and hers comparatively, I feel like a missed a boat or something.
This break wasn’t the relaxation I wanted, but the wake-up call I needed.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but these events have made me question where I am in life in some ways. Financially, I don’t know how prepared I am for after graduate, when I will need to enter the “real world”. My experiences and life stages are very different than those of my friends and family back home, and it’s difficult to gauge my progress in comparison.
This year’s spring break was a blessing in disguise almost; I thought I was going home to have a chill week, but really, I was going home to experience what being a responsible adult can be.