Good food. High school friends. Your own bed. A family pet. And hey, even your family.
After months of living on your own, the time has finally come to head home. Even if it’s just for the week of Thanksgiving break, it’s nice to go home and relax before hitting the books for finals.
While you may love college so much you don’t want to leave, this week is great rest to have before the stress of finals weighs you down. First of all, you get to eat a great meal with your family, which is one of the best things about Thanksgiving!
As a sophomore, I’ve learned to appreciate this little break even more because the first semester excitement has simmered down. Don’t get me wrong, I love college, but it’s nice to see the family and have a taste of home between all the papers and exams. It’s also a great time to start participating in the start of holiday traditions. Picking the Christmas tree anyone?
You may either be excited or very nervous to see all your friends and relatives after being away from home for three months. In the grand scheme of things, those three months aren’t a lot of time, but so much changes. At least in my case it did.
Looking back now and even in the context of all of freshman year, it’s crazy to think how much I’ve grown and experienced. Even my parents noticed a change and pointed it out at this break last year. Apparently I came home looking older and holding myself “differently.” Maybe that means “I missed you and college made you old” in parent language?
Hanging out with high school friends for the first time is its own different experience as well. While you may have those best friends you’ve talked to throughout the semester and kept informed about your life, seeing them in person after months of separation is crazy. It’s sitting in a circle and sharing experiences. Seeing these old friends is one of the best parts of break. You can tell them about your new life and hear all about theirs.
I noticed a change within myself but I didn’t realize it appeared on the outside as well. You develop this confidence that you can accomplish anything after enduring hardships on your own. You can feel alone. You can feel like you have too many people around you. All on a given day and in a span of hours.
Going home as a freshman is a chance to reflect on those weeks, because there’s nothing quite like it. I’m not sure if I’ll have the opportunity to experience anything like the roller coaster of emotions and growth again, so enjoy break and the chance to reconnect with people while it lasts.