College students who can’t travel home can reimagine their holiday season
During the holiday season, being confined to the lonely comfort of a dorm room or apartment is not an ideal situation for most college students. Unfortunately, spending the holidays away from family is the sad reality for many students who can’t make it home for the winter season. Job obligations suck up time, airfare for out-of-state students may be too expensive and other personal obstacles stand in the way of students finding their way home.
It’s difficult to replicate the same feeling of holiday cheer from an empty campus and quiet streets. The bustling energy you once experienced while at home in the winter months seems all but abandoned on a college campus. Seeing your peers pile up into cars and load on to buses as the semester ends only intensifies your longing for home.
Spending the holidays away from home can be a challenge, especially if it’s your first winter break away from home. But with this change and new experience comes unexpected adventures and a chance to make lifelong memories. So, regardless of where you find yourself by the end of December, don’t shy away from celebrating festivities.
Embrace old traditions in a new way
You find yourself on campus as the weather cools down and the jingle bells start to sound, and you begin reminiscing.
Decorating your house with lights, ornaments and wreaths.
Drinking eggnog and baking sugar cookies.
Roasting marshmallows by a fire while music plays.
These memories that are frequently associated with an idealized holiday household may be long gone and far out of reach by the time you set foot on to a college campus. Try not let your nostalgia turn into melancholia. Instead, rephrase your mindset. View your independent holiday time as a chance to take control of your narrative. As tough as it can be to spend treasured time away from family, having the opportunity to schedule and manage your own holiday season without conflict or compromise could be a blessing in disguise. Those holiday meals your family never tried or those traditions you always wanted to begin but never did are finally yours for the taking. Treat yourself to some self-care holiday time and take advantage from your time off to try a new hobby or learn a new skill. Don’t be afraid of losing beloved holiday traditions; rather, reshape your expectations around embracing change. You can still decorate your living quarters, drink eggnog and play music. Your environment may look and feel different, but the holiday spirit can remain strong.
Reach out to your community
During times when you feel alone, remember that plenty of other students are in your same shoes. If you won’t be going home for the holidays, there are others who will also be staying on campus. If you have friends sticking around, plan holiday events and celebrations with them. Or, take the opportunity to make new friends and bond over the holiday spirit. If you’re longing for some wintertime cheer and bliss, then chances are everyone else in your shoes feels the same way. You never know what memories you could make if you reach out to a friendly face.
It is also worth looking into campus resources for the holiday season. See what holiday-related events and celebrations may be happening in your area. Even though your academic life is confined to a university campus, explore the surrounding community to find fun events and activities that suit your holiday desires. Invite others along and expand your connection with the community beyond your university. You never know where these adventures may lead you.
Stay in touch with your family
Although you can’t celebrate the holiday season with your family in person, don’t let the 21st century advantage of a digital age pass you by. Call your family and friends from home to stay up-to-date with their lives and festivities. Being together, even if it’s through a screen, is better than not seeing one another at all. Do you still feel left out having not watched your favorite holiday movies with your family? Streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, allow you to engage in watch parties between or among your computer screens. These watch parties are a fun, innovative way to still watch those family-favorite movies together.
It’s OK to feel homesick and yearn to be with your family. But be mindful and alert of the creative ways for you to stay in communication. Your family will appreciate spending time with you, just as you will appreciate being in their presence — even if it’s digitally.
This is the time of year to reflect on the feelings of joy, gratitude and generosity. What do those values mean to you? It may be difficult to articulate your feelings when you feel alone for the holiday season, but if you take advantage of the time you have to relax, make connections with your community and remain in communication with those who love you the most, then your holiday spirit can still run free.