Oh boy my first non-jaw surgery related post!
It is 2:15 AM on a Wednesday night (?)…nope actually it’s Tuesday night. I can never seem to keep track of the days while I’m home.
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, goodies, and prayer. If you are a college student like me, I hope it was filled with AMPLE relaxation and bliss- because mine sure wasn’t. I just turned 20 years old, and I think I’m having a quarter-life crisis…
Being a third-year college student has taught me a lot about how to be productive during school breaks. As you know if you are a college student reading this, they don’t come often- so we need to use our time wisely. I will be the first to admit that the first two years at university, I just couldn’t wait to sit at home on my couch for days straight and forget about everything schoolwork related. Then, I would get so comfortable at home- and between the couch (of course), my mom’s home-cooked meals, having zero responsibility, and sleeping in every day, I wouldn’t ever want to go back to school.
WELL, things changed.
I am no longer an “underclassman” with the excuse of “trying to figure out who I am” and “still learning how the whole college thing works” and “like, I just graduated high school, give me a break.” Now, I’m all……..”WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE????”
It’s all starting to come full circle now, and while I absolutely love coming home and seeing my family and friends, growing up has put a huge damper on my enjoyment of coming home. That little thing called life is getting in the way of me being a lazy kid who’s still supported by her parents. Now, I’m actually worrying about how I’m going to repay them for everything they’ve given me in the past 20 years. A huge part of me thinks I’m too young to be worrying about this..and the other part knows that graduation is right around the corner.
That is another reason I decided to start this blog- with the hope that putting my thoughts onto the page might unlock something I never knew about myself, instead of keeping it all contained.
Here are a few things I’ve experienced from going home on college breaks:
1. You learn who your true friends are
Let’s face it: it’s hard to keep in touch after high school graduation. Everyone goes their separate ways, and while you once considered yourself a part of several different cliques, now only a few of you gravitate toward each other on your breaks from school, and you will hang onto them for dear life. It becomes harder to see your friends and you need to make an effort to get out of the house and see them, or you will regret it later.
2. You learn to appreciate college town public transit
Going out on the weekends ain’t so easy anymore when you’re drunk with no ride home. Hmm?
3. Mom and dad are your bffffffffs
They raised you, put you through college, and always welcome you back with open arms. College has helped you grow and mature, and now your relationship with your parents has changed. They don’t look at you as much of a kid anymore- but an adult who makes her own decisions. They are proud of the person you have become and miss having you around more than you probably know.
4. You miss having a routine and begin questioning your sanity
Sure, those first few days are Heaven in a House. There’s nothing quite like sleeping late on a Tuesday..and Wednesday, and Thursday…….but after about a week you start to feel a little bit guilty.
5. You worry that life after college won’t be any different than it was before
After being home for a while and not doing anything particularly productive, you forget about how actually busy and motivated you are at school. Then you worry about what your purpose in life is and if you’re doing enough, and start thinking of any way to be productive again (like starting a blog ha ha ha). Is this what life will be like after you graduate? No more college, so no more purpose? You’ve made it this far, so hopefully not. While I do struggle with this lack of self assurance every single day being home, you must keep reminding yourself that this is just a break- soon, you will be back at school which is a full time job. And you are doing just fine.
6. Alone time isn’t as good as it used to be
Once upon a time, you were assigned a roommate in a freshman residence hall with 40 other people on your floor and one community bathroom. How will you live?! After a couple of months, maybe even sooner, you get so used to being around friends constantly, and your roommates learn everything about you. The people you live with become a part of you. Then when you all go home, that part of you is missing, and you no longer feel good about being alone. Keep in touch with your friends and remind them how much you miss them.
7. Nobody cooks like mom. Enjoy it while you can.
Whether you are living on campus and get that same grilled cheese sandwich from the dining hall every single day for lunch, or you’re like me with her own apartment and cabinets full of snacks because you’re too lazy to cook, there is always one thing to look forward to when you come home- Mom’s dinner. You learn to never take this for granted because in a few years when you’re completely on your own, you can’t expect her to cook for you, basically ever again!
While you’re home, remember that school’s just around the corner. Keep your head up, because this limbo is only temporary. 🙂
xoxo -‘` Gabi
