I don’t know if you all are feeling the same way, but around this time in October, I’m ready for a break. A break from my school work that’s piling up, a break from my friends who I LOVE but sometimes see too much, and a break from dining hall food. A break to go home for a couple of days, see my family, and sit on the couch watching Gilmore Girls.
I think SMC’s fall break fell at just the right time this year. Students had Saturday 10/5 through Tuesday 10/8 off, classes resuming on Wednesday 10/9. Many students packed up and hit the road home either Thursday or Friday before the long weekend, but there were many who weren’t able to go home. Maybe those were fall sports athletes, exchange students, or those who live a plane ride away from campus.
For me, despite having two tennis matches (Saturday and Sunday), I was still able to go home for a brief time. Luckily our match Sunday was only 40 minutes from my house, and my parents were able to pick me up. While I pondered, is it worth it for me to go home for just two nights? I came to the conclusion that those two nights would include two sleeps in my own bed, two home cooked meals, and two days to destress.
Looking back now, I definitely made the right decision. I slept like a baby both nights, got to go apple picking with my parents on Monday afternoon, and got to take a step away from stress levels that were rising at school.
I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a break sometimes. We’re all human. I wish I could be in the library for ten hours a day. I wish I didn’t fall asleep studying or reading. I wish I could do everything perfectly. But guess what? I can’t. I get tired, I get stressed, and I get overwhelmed. You probably do too, and it’s totally normal!
So if you’re feeling like I was before this past weekend, just remember: Breathe. Take a 20 minute power nap. Go home for a weekend if you can. Just do you because that’s pretty damn impressive.
P.S. Please enjoy this silly cover photo of my parents at the apple orchard :)