Stage One: Freedom
The minute you finish that last final and check out of housing, you are officially on winter holiday and you don’t have to think about papers, or essays, or reading assignments for three whole weeks. You’re free! Enjoy it! Bask in it!
Stage Two: Relief
When you get home you don’t have to worry anymore. Laundry doesn’t cost you a cup of coffee anymore and you don’t have to wait in long lines to get food. You will be overwhelmed with a sense of relief, which leads you to stage three.
Stage Three: Relaxation
Now that you’ve been reacquainted with the pleasures of home, hugged your parents twenty minutes each and your pets for, well, forever, kick back, put your feet up and relax. You have time before the holidays and there is no need to wake up at 8 am. Catch up on your shows and sleep. It’s R&R time.
Stage Four: Excitement
IT’S CHRISTMAS! Holy cow, how could you forget? You’ve had some time to chill, but now it’s time to celebrate! You’re finally able to see old friends again, and check out your old haunts. There’s going to be some hardcore nostalgia going on, but you’re going to love every second of it.
Stage Five: Boredom
The holidays have come and gone. You’ve stuffed yourself with a Christmas feast, and now it’s about 50 weeks before it’ll all come around again. And you’ve started to get a little bored. You love being home and love seeing your family, but you’ve also started to create a life of your own back and school, and you miss your dorm, and you miss the terrible caf food and the laughs that come with every meal. You miss your friends. And that’s ok. You’ll be back home again, and you’ll enjoy and then you’ll come back to school and enjoy that too.