Easter Break. The time every college student looks forward to. It’s the calm right before the storm of finals. The refreshing reminder that we’re on the home stretch of the semester. We’re coming up on the last leg of the race; the finish line is in sight. We can all agree that one key component of any holiday break is family. Whether it’s the drunk aunt who gives the kids way too much sugar or the grandparent who tells the same stories every holiday, the holidays would be incomplete without our families.
We don’t always realize it, but our family members have all been through exactly what we are experiencing as struggling college students (okay, maybe the experiences are a little different but the basic roots of the problems are identical). They’ve been to crazy parties and had bad breakups and failed a class or two. We often forget the vast knowledge our family members have to offer. We also forget that we have the power to be an incredible role model for our younger family members. They idolize us, and, too often, we get so caught up in our own little world that we let the opportunities to impact them slip right through our fingers.
We take for granted the crazy, seemingly meaningless, family memories we make at such gatherings like Easter. In retrospect, it is these memories that are the most meaningful and stay with us the longest. This Easter, I hope we take the time to gain some insight into life from our family members. I hope we rise to the occassion and appreciate the wonderful gifts God has blesses us with: our relatives.
Instead of hiding in the corner or drinking ourselves through dinner conversations, let’s be present and put ourselves out there. Embrace the uniquiness of what your family has to offer. Because I guarantee you, there is no other family in the world like yours. That is something to be proud of. So, while we’re recharging before the final sprint through the finish line of the semester, let’s take a quick breather to bask in the richness of our family.