School vacations, the peak of adolescent R&R we all love them, but like all good things, they must inevitably reach their end. Now, if you travel away from your homestead to pursue an education like I do, then you're probably aware of the homey comforts we're cashing in to chase after that bachelor's degree or otherwise. So without further ado, here are a few things to welcome back and bid farewell as we make the transition back into academia.

1. Winter is coming

In fact, winter's been here for a while, and with it comes cold showers, cold sinks, and generally frigid utilities you will likely have little to no agency over in your apartment or residence hall. If you can manage it, keep the stoves hot and the heaters blasting, folks-- chances are we will be bunkering down for a while. Admittedly, most schools are pretty good at catching repairs, but I wouldn't be so quick to put all my eggs in one technical basket.

2. Praise be to the microwave

Granted, I have a cook-top in my apartment, but during the academic day to day we are not always blessed with ample time to prepare the sort of meals we enjoy while on vacation. Thus, the glorious microwave oven once again finds a special place in our hearts as we indulge our hot pockets, pizza rolls, and other assorted staple foods of the college diet. Truly, your microwave recipe book is only as colorful as you make it, and you would be amazed what you can pull off with a three-minute reheat.

3. Friends!

Where we might have give some our friends a farewell hug, we also get to enjoy catching up with our pals. Though returning to school means a loss of free time, it also signals the opportunity to kick back with that endearing group of friends whom we can only see when we are knee-deep in our studies. There will be exams and presentations to suffer through, but at least we can find solace in board game nights, YouTube videos, and good company.

4. Yes, there will be homework

Essays, worksheets, the whole nine yards is on the horizon. It's been nice to go without the paperweight for a while, but much like death and taxes, it cannot be outrun indefinitely. Much like any other challenge in life, however, we will endure. Amidst the stream of documents scattered on the floor, pinned on the wall, and shoved under the fridge, there is some method to the madness. At times we may be manic, trying to stay afloat in the sea of dead trees, but so long as we acknowledge the trial at hand, we are twice as prepared to meet it. The tunnel is long, but with diligence, it can be managed.

Starry-eyed or dreary, we all face the end of vacation head-on. With it comes a myriad of pros and cons that differ greatly from person to person. We can't simply get away with continuously playing hooky, but we can make the most of what we have.