College is a blast. If you love your school, it quickly starts to feel like your new home. The freedom, the friends, and the lifestyle are something unique that you'll only get during your short four years.
Your life at school is wonderful, but there's something magical about the idea of going home during breaks. You get to relax with your family and your pets. You get to eat meals that aren't terribly prepared by you or the dining hall. You get treated like the prince or princess you truly are just because your family missed you so much.
As amazing as it is to be home with your family, the magic quickly fades, and you remember why you love being at school so much in the first place. The progression of thoughts from the excitement and anticipation of break, to leaving school, to your time spent at home can be a rollercoaster:
So, it's the Monday before break, and you can hardly control your excitement throughout the week.
"Only four days until I get to go home! I just have four papers, two quizzes, and three exams standing between break and me. I hate college."
"I can't wait to sleep in my bed. And cuddle with my pets. And eat all my parent's food. Fully stocked refrigerator, here I come."
"Is it Friday yet?"
"Awesome. I'm going to have a mountain of homework over break, even though this week was a living hell. Maybe when I leave, I'll just never come back."
And then Friday finally comes.
"FREEEEEEDOM!!"
So you're free from classes and can
officially avoid all of your responsibilities for the next four days, one week,
three weeks, depending on the length of your break (or your skill at continuing
to avoid your responsibilities when classes resume). You're finally home and
it's magical.
"Aw, my dog is so cute! He's first one to greet me. I'm definitely taking him back with me."
"Yay! Family! I've missed you."
"Oh, my gosh this dinner is amazing. I really need to learn how to cook."
"I'm going to sleep so well tonight. My comfy bed and this food coma are going to be a perfect combination."
The next day you finally feel rested after sleeping like a baby. You had a wonderful homemade breakfast and really only have one thing on your mind.
"Ah, hello Netflix."
As the days go on, you continue to appreciate your family, the great food, and Netflix, but you're starting to get a slight case of cabin fever. You love hanging out with your parents, but you miss your friends and are quickly approaching the final episode of that final season on Netflix.
"Maybe I should shower or go to the gym or find someone to hang out with."
"Oh yeah, I do have that homework to do. That's still not happening."
"I wonder what my friends are doing right now."
"My parents are so busy. How do they have a life and I don't?"
"They're starting to ask me to do things like wash the dishes and go grocery shopping."
"I haven't moved off of this couch in three days."
"Is it time to go back yet?"
Now you've found yourself coming full circle. You've successfully avoided homework, everyone from high school including your ex, and any chores your parents asked you to do while you were home. It's definitely time to go back to your friends and your life in the new place you call home. I'd call this break a win.
