Breaks can be stressful too

Let's be real here, breaks from school are the best. I never find myself not needing a break from classes. Even though sometimes our breaks are ill-placed, I still find myself enjoying every second of not being in class.

But, here's the deal, not all breaks are created equal.

Labor Day comes right at the beginning of the semester and I often use it as a day to get ahead in my classes. The same thing happens in January for Martin Luther King Day.

Then comes Fall Break in October. This break is a give and take. Some years, I do nothing. Some years I go home. As an RA, sometimes I bite the bullet and offer to stay since we need half the staff in the building. This year was different, though, I got to go on a girls trip to Washington DC and it was amazing.

But now I'm counting down to do lists until Thanksgiving Break. I love Thanksgiving Break. But I do not think my school truly understands what Thanksgiving Break is for. I plan to see my family and hopefully some friends over Thanksgiving Break. Catching up with these people will take a while. Then on Friday I have the Iowa game.

What I'm saying is, Thanksgiving Break is a tease. With only five days to catch up with everyone, stuff your face and get back to campus, there is no time left to keep working on homework or study for exams.

I literally have a to do list for each day until Break that I am working off of because I don't want to forget anything and I know there are a million things to do.

When I get back from Thanksgiving, I have an exam on Tuesday afternoon, an online presentation due that evening and Capstone edits on the rise.

There are only 10 days between coming back from Thanksgiving Break and my first final.

So yeah, November is tough. 

That's why we love Winter Break so much.

In between semesters, I don't have to worry about deadlines and projects. I can simply go home and be a kid again for a little bit.

Sure, it won't be the same as elementary school and I will definitely be taking advantage of some extra retail hours. But I am not required to come back having accomplished anything.

This week, the week before Thanksgiving Break, is a rough one. I am trying to get everything done so when I go home, I can actually be at home.

I love being home with my family and old friends. So I don't want anything to keep me locked away in my room away from them.

I know Thanksgiving Break will go too quickly. That's always how it goes.

But once December 20 (earlier if I can manipulate my jobs right) and then December 24 at 10 a.m. (thanks RA life) hit, I am home free.

And I cannot wait.

I think I'm an anomaly, but I am so excited to hang out with my mom and do all the Christmas stuff.

I want to go to my brother's basketball games and workout with the other one.

Because Winter Break is when I don't have to be an adult all the time. I can be a girl with her family in her hometown. And, somehow, I still love that.

Maybe it's because this is my last "normal" Winter Break or maybe I'm just hormonal, but I am ready to go home and I am ready for a break.