This semester kicked my butt. So, of course, I spent lots of time thinking about the upcoming breaks and how I would give anything to go home a week earlier. It also got me thinking about how, during my freshman year, I wanted nothing more than to stay at school and almost dreaded going back home. This drastic shift really got me thinking about when exactly the change occurred.
I’ve lived in the same town my entire life, so when college applications rolled around, I was so excited to think about all the places I could live for the next four years. I had “You’re on Your Own Kid” by Taylor Swift on repeat senior year and was truly dreaming of getting out of my hometown. So, when the time came to come home for a month after my first semester of college, I was kind of dreading it. I had finally figured out how to live on my own in a new state and was terrified I would go home and fall into the same habits and version of myself that I hoped I had left behind. Naturally, I had this same feeling when I came home for summer break after the next semester. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you what I did all summer except dream about going back to school and never spending an entire summer at home again.
It was during the Fall semester of my sophomore year that I truly began to grow and thrive at school. I loved my new roommate and was taking all the classes for my major, and I began to truly love my life at school. However, this was also when schoolwork really picked up and my calendar was the busiest it had been. I was having so much fun just about every day, but I was exhausted. Part of me wanted to go home and do absolutely nothing except annoy my parents and read in my childhood bedroom, but I was also so sad that I was leaving my fun life back at school. Going back to school for the spring semester was bittersweet because I knew I wouldn’t be back in the summer, but I was so excited to see what the semester held.
The summer after sophomore year, I studied abroad! You can read all about how this experience changed my life here. And yes, as clichĂ© as it sounds, it truly changed my life. Not only was it the first summer I didn’t go home, but I was on my own, across the ocean from my home, friends, and family. I learned to rely on the people around me and what I had learned while living on my own, all while having the dreamiest summer. I could talk about it for hours, but to save your time, it truly shaped me into who I am today. However, I missed my home more than I had ever missed it in my life. Living on your own in a foreign country with new friends is so exciting, but it’s also so hard, and all I wanted to do was go home and have my parents cook all my meals, sit by the pool, and have no responsibilities. It made me realize how blessed I am to have a family that has always been there for me but pushes me to stretch my boundaries and encourages me to experience all the world has to offer. This summer was the longest stretch I had been away from home while in school, so coming home after my whirlwind summer was one of the best feelings. And before I knew it, it was time for junior year!
Which brings us to now. As I said, this semester has been so fun and exhausting, and I am so thankful to be coming home for winter break. Next summer, I’ll have an internship, hopefully in a brand-new city, so this will be the longest break I’ll have for a while. I’ve learned how precious the time I have with my family is and how scarce it will become once I graduate. During this time, I’m focusing on truly resting and being with the people who have poured into me my whole life, soaking up every minute with them. Rather than sitting on the couch with my nose in a book like I did when I was a freshman, I plan on spending quality time with my family and making memories that I’ll hold onto for the next few months.