As spring break 2016 winds to a close, its time to face reality again. Time to get started on homework that was put off until the very last minute, time to whip out winter jackets, and time to set that alarm clock back to its early morning setting. For most of us, the adjustment back to the real world is difficult and upsetting experience. Here are the five stages of post-spring break grief.
Stage 1: Denial .
You adamantly deny that you have to go back to school in the next few days. You refuse to check your grades or your planner, you refuse to acknowledge the fact that you have a growing pile of work that you have put off until the very end. You live in a total state of denial and refuse to allow the thought of school to enter your mind. Because if you just don't think about it, it will never happen right? Right!
Stage 2: Anger.
You are angry at the world. You shake your fist to the skies and curse whoever it was that invented the evil concept of midterms. You want to scream, punch a wall, and throw a fit. The world isn't fair. You spent a week in a warm tropical paradise and are now, by some cruel and unusual form of punishment, being forced to spend the rest of your days in a stuffy classroom slowly being consumed by a mounting pile of stress.
Stage 3: Bargaining.
You try to rationalize everything in a desperate attempt to justify staying on break for just a little bit longer. You promise to work harder when you get back, study for an extra hour, volunteer, whatever you need to do to get just a few extra days of sweet sweet spring break. You debate all of your options and plead for a few more days.
Stage 4: Depression.
All hope is lost. The end of break is near and there is no possible way around it. You resign yourself to your bed and hope for better days, that sadly, will not come. You spend the remaining hours of your break is a slump, unable to enjoy yourself any more, knowing that the dark days are ahead. Sad and rejected, you retire to your bedroom and hide away from the cruel world.
Stage 5: Acceptance.
Do you ever have that feeling where you are like: This might as well happen? Well here it is. After hours of self reflection you realize that the end of spring break has always been inevitable and you have just been living in a fantasy world of denial. School is coming back. You don't like it, but you decide to make the best of it. You will be reunited with friends, your beloved campus, and your home sweet home college town. Spring break will come around next year, but until then, you can look forward to summer!
