During high school, I had always heard about the wild fiasco that spring break in college was meant to be. A week of non-stop partying at a beach with thousands of other college students seemed like the life. But as my freshman year progressed and people began to make plans for spring break, I decided that for my first year in school, I wanted to go home instead. And I am so glad I did.
I didn't realize how homesick I had been until I saw my brother waiting for me at the airport. I'm not ashamed to admit I ran up to him and gave him a very big, yet totally manly, bro hug when I walked out of the terminal. We went straight to our favorite sports bar and ate an absurd amount of cheese fries and wings, then headed home to see my parents. I can't describe how relieving and fun it was to be with my family again, telling them all about my semester and hearing about their experiences since I'd been gone. Spending time with family had been exactly what I needed.
Over spring break, it was great to be able to sleep in and not stress about anything. I spent the mornings lounging around the house, taking my dog for long walks, and trying to be productive. It felt good to be living simply, away from the rush of college life. In the afternoons, my friends and I would play basketball, go out to eat, and go hiking or exploring Washington, DC. Seeing my hometown friends after months of being apart was great. This spring break really showed that there's something to be said about enjoying your time at home.
In addition to spending valued time with the most important people in my life, spending time on my own away from college life was refreshing. Between studying and classes, going downtown, and keeping up with fraternity commitments, I was stressed, tired, and easily irritable when I arrived back home. My own bed, home cooked food, and time to just do what I wanted to do with no pressure made me feel better quickly.
While I sometimes wished over break that I was somewhere on a beach with my friends from school, drinking and going out at night, I really am glad I came home for spring break. They say home is where your heart is, and my heart belonged to my family, friends, and dog. And my bed. It felt good seeing the joy on my parents' and brother's faces when I came home. I knew they had missed me just as much as I had missed them. After this week at home, I'm ready to take on the rest of the semester and have some fun.
