Going home for the first time after being away at your first semester of college is already nerve wracking. If the first time happens to also be Thanksgiving Break, that only makes it worse. On the one hand, you’re ready to go home and see your family and return to the normalcy of not wearing shoes in the shower, but on the other hand you’ll never be ready to see your entire family and answer all of their burning questions about college life. These are the thoughts of every freshman going home for Thanksgiving.
1. “Do I look different?”
You know that college has changed you, but how much has it changed you? Do the differences show on your face? You don’t think you’ve gained any weight, but you can’t be sure. You can’t help but wonder if you’ll be recognizable.
2. “I need to frame my grades in a way that won’t give my parents a heart attack.”
College is hard. College is probably a lot harder than you expected it to be. A couple times this semester, you’ve seen grades that have been less than ideal. You’re working really hard, but it doesn’t seem to reflect what’s showing up on your papers. You know your parents are going to ask, so you either have to lie or tell them the truth very slowly. Maybe turning that D into a B isn’t such a bad idea for the five days you’re home…
3. “Please don’t ask about my love life, please don’t ask about my love life…”
Thanksgiving Day you’ll be seeing Aunt Janet, Uncle Richard, and Grandpa Joe, and you know they’ll be shooting questions over the mashed potatoes and turkey. “So, anybody new?” “How’s the love life going?” “Been on any dates recently?” Even if there is someone new, you’ve only been at college for less than three months, you don’t want to talk about it (or jinx it).
4. “College is hard, it’s not what I expected, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
But you know you’ll have to. No matter what, you’re going to have to talk about being in college because it’s new and Thanksgiving is the ultimate pit of small talk. You’re not having the time of your life and it has been a real adjustment, so it’s not exactly your topic of choice, but you don’t really have a choice. You know you just have to grin and bear it.
5. “College is awesome, do I have to go home?”
College has been way better than you expected and you can’t even remember why you were so nervous on move-in day. You just want to stay all of Thanksgiving weekend, but you know all of your friends are going home, so you might as well visit your family. Sure, you miss your parents and siblings, but you’re having such a great time and you don’t want the party to end for even a day!
6. “What if everything has changed?”
Your family has adapted to life without you in the house, they don’t know everything that goes on in your life anymore, and you’re almost fully adjusted to your new world at college. Not only are you about to see your family again for the first time, but you’re also about to see your friends from high school (if you want to). You’re different, they’re different, everything seems different, you may even feel like a guest in your own house.
Even though everything may seem different, so much will still be the same, and everyone is definitely happy to see you. Whether you’re nervous or excited to go home, make the most of your time with your family and friends because, in less than a week, you’ll be back in your college life getting ready for finals!
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