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What i learned on my winter vacation ... By Anissa Richmond, Ithaca College
"Whooah, we're half way there. Oh Oh! Living' on a prayer!" Freshmen all over Ithaca College's campus hummed this timeless (and somewhat corny) Bon Jovi melody as they finished their last final and began to plan the trek home for Winter Break. After completing finals, a wave of relief, happiness and frustration rushed over me--an odd combination but nonetheless completely accurate. I felt relief in knowing that the classes that had stressed me out over the last five months were finished. I felt happiness in knowing that soon I would be back in my hometown, in my bed and eating my mom's (free) cooking. And I felt frustration in realizing that no matter how well I had done on my exams, grades would not be posted for weeks. Successfully completing the first half of my freshman year was an amazing accomplishment, and I was more than ready to begin my eight-week hiatus from learning. However, as soon as I got home a strange wave of panic washed over me. How was I supposed to transition from the eternal freedom, constant energy and sleepless nights of college to the monotony of home? With nothing to accomplish and parents watching over me once more, I was pretty apprehensive about what it would be like to be home again. During this break, I learned some of the do's and don'ts when it comes to making the most of the time away from school. Do sleep. A lot. The minute I was home all I could think about was laying my head down on my pillow. There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed, and although it was weird not having a roommate, my room was a pretty excellent place to be. I reveled in being able to sleep in until noon without worrying about someone else's alarm going off. Don't be surprised when your parents enforce a curfew. At school, I was able to go out whenever I wanted and come back whenever I felt like it. When I was home, the idea of having to be in by 1 a.m. seemed ridiculous and unfair. But as my mom blatantly explained to me: "My house, my rules." Now that I was home, I had to abide by the rules of the household. The restrictions seemed pretty awful, but I realized that was a fight I most certainly wouldn't win. Do reconnect with your friends. One of the best things about Winter Break is that most colleges go on break at the same time. That means all of your buddies from high school will be back in your hometown when you are, ready to reminisce about old times. Make sure to plan that reunion with your friends and stick to it. There's nothing better than sharing new stories with old friends. Don't allow yourself to be bored. Although Winter Break seems like the best thing in the world, eventually the novelty will wear off and you will begin to count the days until you can get back to school. Fill your time at home with activities and make the most of it. Hang out with parents, hit the gym and go shopping with your siblings. Even if you do miss school, I guarantee once you get there you'll begin to long for the comforts of home. Do get a job. The idea of Winter Break implies just that, a break. But, it's a good idea to take the time away from classes and do something productive with it. Getting a job, whether it's babysitting or retail cashier will absolutely benefit you in the long run. If you can't find a job, look into any online classes that your school offers. At Ithaca, winter online courses are excellent options for people with many course requirements and not enough time during the regular semester to fulfill them. With either a job or extra courses, at the end of the Winter Break you will have something positive to go back to school with. Returning home for Winter Break serves as an excellent test for freshman year. Being back with your family and friends can pretty much tell you whether or not you made the right choice when it comes the college you attend. And if you miss your school during Winter Break as much as I miss Ithaca College, you can rest assured that your decision was right. Past articles
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