If you say the word "Christmas" to a college student, the typical response usually includes the words "I'm so excited" paired with their eyes lighting up and a kind of excitement that hasn't been seen in a long time. Us college kids really aren't hard to please, give us a few decorations, maybe a small lit tree, and some christmas smelling candles for our dorms and we'll be more than content. (We've also probably had our rooms decorated since the day after we got back from Thanksgiving break). At this point in the semester, we're all just itching to be done with classes, to get our finals over with, and to spend some quality time at home. As for most people, the meaning of Christmas changes throughout our lives. To a college kid, here's what Christmas means to us:

1. The most dreaded week of the semester is rapidly approaching.

The large, unwanted barrier between us and home is the one and only week of the semester every college kid hates: finals week.

2. Happily saying goodbye to school food for a few weeks.

Bring on all of the home cooked meals for the next month. You'll suddenly appreciate anything your mom decides to cook more now that you've been eating school food for 3 months straight.

3. Handcrafting gifts for your whole family and friends because you're broke.

It's the thought that counts, right?

4. The "how's school going?" or "how are you grades?" questions that don't ever seem to stop coming.

We've all been there. Just smile, nod, tell them what they want to hear.

5. Reunions with your high school pals.

There's not many better feelings than seeing your friends from home for the first time in 3 months.

6. Returning to your part time job.

We need to financilly support our Saturday night pizza cravings somehow, right?

7. Finally having time to sleep and binge watch Netflix.

This is rare occurrence during the semester, so do as much of it as you can while you're home.

8. Overdecorating your doom room.

Because hanging lights, decorating a tree, putting "Merry Christmas" stickies on your door, and wrapping the walls with wrapping paper definitely isn't enough.

9. Spending valuable time with family, because what else is really more important?

We love school, but there isn't a time when we're not missing our family just a little bit while we're there.