I’m sure that campus looked like merely a shadow of itself with fall break last week. For many freshmen (myself included) it was their first opportunity to visit home after having started their new lives in South Bend, Indiana. The time home proved to be a real eye-opener to say the least, and was an opportunity to really understand myself, my future goals, and the relationships that I have at my old home and the place that is slowly becoming my real home. My emotions while I was home ranged from extremely happy to bittersweet. Here’s what my experience was like.
You feel guilty.
Being away from those you love is hard, and it honestly feels like there are TOO many people that you just HAVE to see and don’t have the time. You feel really badly that you have to split your time so sparingly between your friends and family. You also feel guilty about how much your parents, family, and close friends are missing you. I personally felt a little guilty for admitting that I was having so much fun away from home to my dad. I’m an only child and hope that this revelation didn’t break his heart too much. Your parents are getting older, your friends are going through new drama you don’t relate to anymore, and you are missing your siblings’ school events while you’re out having the time of your life. While guilt is normal, it’s also important to understand that everyone’s lives need to continue to go on. You shouldn’t feel guilty if yours does too.
Those that love you make the NICEST and most AMAZING effort to make your time fun!
Maybe your mom took you on a girls’ day for pedicures and lunch. Or maybe your dad took you and your family to play mini golf. When I went home, I felt like my family was rolling out the red carpet for me. It’s not like my family and friends did not adore me before, but I felt very special and quite magnificent during my stay. Your family and friends (those who stuck around anyways) will make sure that you do and visit your favorite places and things while you are at home. I was so grateful to eat my nana’s chilaquiles, to go to Starbucks with my best friends, and to cuddle while watching Netflix with my boyfriend. Even a quick midnight run to Subway with those guy friends that have never left your side are the best. It’s the little things when you’re away that you miss, but it’s the time away that makes the times together feel like the some of the best memories. Not only that, but you feel super loved by your new friends at Notre Dame. You probably texted and Snapchatted non-stop, and missed your inside jokes and new routine with the new and incredible individuals in your life.
You understand.
I felt like I understood my dad a lot more while I was back. I appreciated all the lectures he used to give me about boys, underage drinking, money management, and all the other subjects. Now that I’m out in the “real world,” I don’t have him to nag me to get out of bed for school, or make me a protein shake before school, or even binge watch Star Trek while eating mint chocolate chip with when my boyfriend and I get into an argument. I miss that, and I realize that all the things that I used to roll my eyes at had to sink in somehow for me to still be alive, right? It’s a harsh reality, but you also realize who your real friends are and who you only hung out with because you had them for classes.
You feel homesick.
Towards the middle of the week, after your belly is full and your heart is warm from BFF snuggles, you start to miss Notre Dame. You miss the miraculous Golden Dome staring at you throughout the day. You miss your roommates and the amazing people you call your best friends now. Your life seems incomplete without SDH John’s cute little jokes and quips for the day. You miss the kind people, the alumni on football weekend, the Recker’s smoothie runs at night, and the fight for a taxi on Main Circle on Friday night. Ultimately, you realize that even though you love and will always miss home, attending the University of Notre Dame was the BEST decision you have ever made in you life!
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