Collegiettes, we’re finally approaching the season of long breaks from college life. While we can’t wait for some of our parent’s home cooking, a snuggle with our pet, and a nice laugh with our siblings, we sure can wait to be put in the hot seat with questions we would rather avoid… Here’s some ways to avoid the *blush and dodge* of questions our relatives are surely going to throw our way.
1. So how are your grades so far? This is one thing we really don’t want to think about when we can turn off our alarms and not check our email every few hours for an update from our prof’s.
You’ll want to have a reaction like this:
But try saying something along the lines of: “well, I’m doing my best and turned in a paper before break, so I haven’t gotten any results back.” Give your family members just enough to satisfy them that you aren’t spending every night at the bars or binge watching Netflix.
2. What’s your major? Here we go. You’ll be questioned on end on about what your plans with your chosen major are, and every relative is going to have some opinion on what you should or shouldn’t be doing.
You’ve answered this so many times, you’ll want to do this:
Try to placate your inquisitive relatives by saying why you chose the major you chose, and that even though you don’t have a specific path you want to take, you’re enjoying the classes and are really excited to see where it takes you. BAM! See, you’re studying something for the next four or five years that you actually enjoy, and that’s worth a lot more.
3. Have you thought about what you’re going to do after graduation? You may now crawl under your covers and never come out. Talking about your current undergrad studies may be hard, but thinking about what you’re going to do after you shake the chancellor’s hand is a concept we don’t want to think about. College life never ends, right? (LOL we wish…)
You’ll be doing this inside…
But try saying, “I haven’t really thought that far ahead, I’ve got a few ideas, but still have plenty of time to decide.” This will tell your relatives you’re at least conscious of the fact you won’t be an undergraduate forever.
4. So, how’s that boyfriend hunt coming along? “Oh I know someone I could set you up with!” SERIOUSLY? SERIOUSLY. Our relatives just want the best for us, and they want to see us ready to carry on the family, but there is just no way to explain to them the twisty tales of who you’re sort of, kind of dating, or how the last boy you dated broke your heart.
You’ll probably feel like this as soon as a question of your relationship comes up…
Try to say… “Well, I’m really focusing on school and I’ve found a new hobby, so I haven’t really had time to entertain the idea of dating.” Look at you, being productive and studious, and not distracted by a boyfriend.
5. Have you done anything interesting lately? Between all of our school work and other obligations it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to find “fun time”. So when you family asks this, you’ll feel like saying this:
Try telling them something mildly interesting, like a book or article you read, or maybe a nice store you found while out shopping. They want to hear that you’re enjoying yourself in between studying!
6. I saw that that Appalachian State was a party school, you’re not partying too hard, are you? *insert wide-eyed-blushing face emoji* Uh oh… Well, we all know what happens in college, and some relatives prefer to turn a blind eye and not entertain any ideas of what their child is doing.
So when you get this question, you’ll want to giggle and probably almost let this slip…
Instead, tell them: “Well I go out with my friends on weekends, but other than that I’m usually in the library or at home with my roommates.” There’s no reason to give mom and dad more things to worry about, as long as you are being safe and responsible when hitting the town.
7.Do you have a job? Can we just not with this one? It’s pretty hard to get a job in a college town, and collegiettes are under enough stress with course work and extracurricular activities.
But, to ease your family’s minds that you’re not just mooching off them and doing nothing, explain to them, “Well, I’m really involved in (club/organization) and taking X hours, so I’m not really looking to work right now,” or “I haven’t found a job that will work with my busy student schedule.” Just give them something so you don’t feel guilty about not working while attending college.
8.ANYTHING to do with what your thoughts on a political event / your political affiliation. In high school we probably weren’t as educated on politics or even cared enough to have an opinion on them, so we just went with whatever our parents were thinking. Well, now the real world is much closer to us and we have our own opinions, but do you really want to discuss them with your strong left/right winged relatives?
You’ll be trying to not pull this number…
So try saying, “Well I agree and disagree with different aspects…” and change the subject to something you learned in a lecture or to an adventure you recently had.
The holiday season is a time for laughter, love and to forget about school for a while… to us collegiettes atleast. Our family members don’t see us as often as they did before we moved away, so they’re interested to hear about our lives and our plans. So they may want to know a little too much, just give them enough to let them know you’re doing okay and thriving in the college world! Try to embrace the holidays with your relatives as best you can, you’ll be back in your college world and free of quetsions soon enough.
Images:
http://windycityactorblog.blogspot.com/
http://glee.wikia.com/wiki/File:Hermione_eye_roll.gif
http://giphy.com/search/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta
https://media.giphy.com/media/OU4hnFuwZycta/giphy.gif
https://www.tumblr.com/search/blacklist
http://data3.whicdn.com/images/129354768/large.gif
http://cdn4.teen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/awkward-date-conversation-gif.gif
http://sayitwithgifs.tumblr.com/post/5999404172/facepalm-gif
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukebailey/awkward-social-situations-should-vs-want