As you near the end of the semester, there are plenty of things to be excited about. All the final socials are coming up, Christmas is right around the corner, and you have less than a month left in that awful class you’re taking to fulfill a gen ed requirement. But before it's all over, there is one glorious week filled with lots of excitement, emotion and food. So sit back, relax, and try to keep your head on straight as you make your way through the following stages of Thanksgiving Break.
Relief (to be home and in your bed)
Wow! It’s so
nice to finally be home and, most importantly, to be reunited with the love of
your life -- your bed. No more
uncomfortable nights spent rolling around in every position to try and get
comfortable on that dreadful thing the University calls a “mattress.” This is
the moment you have been waiting for since you left for college.
Thankful (to finally be back with your pets)
There is no doubt about it, college is hard, but when you go home and see your favorite pet, everything is right in the world. Nothing beats the unconditional love and sloppy kisses of man’s best friend.
Pampered
Yay for home-cooked meals, sleeping in, not doing your own laundry, and most importantly -- showering without shoes on. This is the life.
Pensive
Hmm… should I start working on that 10-minute final presentation due when I get back to school that I haven’t even touched? Or should I just watch the next episode on Netflix?
Procrastination
Nahhhh I have plenty of time. I’ll do it later. (Let me tell you: You don’t. You 100 percent don’t. Future you is not going to be happy with this decision)
Annoyance (at being bombarded with questions your family is guaranteed to ask)
No, Grandpa, I don’t know what I want to do when I graduate yet. Yes Aunt Louisa, I know being a doctor is a great profession, but that’s not really me. Thanks for the offer, Grandma, but I don’t want to discuss my love life right now. No, Mom, I haven’t been going to the gym as much as I should.
Anticipation
It's almost time. Unbutton the top button on your pants and get ready for the meal you have been dreaming about for weeks.
Eagerness
Bring on the food. I'm ready.
Satisfaction
While you feel like you may explode any minute, you don’t regret that fifth helping of mashed potatoes at all. Whatsoever. Period.
Excitement
It’s black Friday, and you know what that means -- Christmas is coming!
Panic
Yes, I do have a paper and presentation due Monday and three exams on Tuesday. No, I haven’t started working on any of it. No, I’m not doing okay. Yes, I believe the best solution is stuffing my face with leftovers and taking a nap.
You will then experience all five stages of grief within a matter of seconds when you wake up on Sunday and realize it’s time to go back to school.
Denial: It can’t possibly be Sunday already, can it?
Anger: I can’t believe I have to go back already. How dare they give us such a short break?
Bargaining: If I could just stay home on more day, I would get everything done.
Depression: I am going to fail every single class. RIP to my GPA.
Acceptance: I’m well rested, my laundry is done, and I have to get ready to take my exams, even if it means I have to pull a few all-nighters. Maybe I’ll do better next semester.
Thanksgiving Break is like the 12 days of Christmas on steroids -- 12 stages in only five days, so be prepared, be excited, and most of all, be thankful.
