A few days before the start of classes, after a month-long winter break, I had a conversation with my boyfriend at breakfast. “I feel like every break that I come home and work or see my old friends, I go back to school when it’s over and feel like a changed man,” he said. “I’m not sure why, but I definitely feel like a different person each time coming back.”
We simultaneously took a bite of our food and I used that moment to really think about it. “Well, each time you work or gather new experiences over break, you’re maturing. You’re learning more about yourself and others. While it’s a really nice time to go home, relax, and see family, it’s also a time for huge growth,” I told him.
He happily agreed and we enjoyed our time together before we parted ways to go to school for the semester. Our conversation got my gears turning. I was always so excited to have a “break” and just settle down, whether it was our 3-month summer break or 1-month winter break. What I didn’t know was that while so little was going on, behind the scenes there was a lot of development.
I worked over break at a typical retail job, and I picked up as many hours as I could while classes were over. What seems like a broke college student just trying to get some more spending money, really had a whole new meaning for me. I had never worked so much in my life before. I was learning how to prioritize what I wanted to do over break, making it home for the holidays, budgeting what I made for basic needs and simply managing my time. I had a lot on my plate during my so called “break” but I really didn’t mind. I came out of the experience with a new love for having a hard work ethic. It felt so amazing to dedicate myself and see the reward in not only my bank account but in my relationships with my coworkers. I was being praised at work for my diligence and excitement to be there which really kept me going. I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t hard sometimes but when the week came to a close and I would flop in my bed to relax, I had never felt more accomplished. These feelings weren’t new to me, but I definitely had never felt them on this level before. I like to think that’s a part of growing up. My accomplishments will always be great but as I get older and the work gets harder, the reward and what I learn will feel much sweeter.
One of my favorite parts about break is getting to be with my friends and family. With the climate of the world, I think having people to make you laugh and hold you when you cry makes the world a little less scary. Not all parts of break are fun, and I know in these last few weeks a lot has changed for all of us, but thankfully we have each other to lean on.
Take time out of your day or your week to do something meaningful with friends, give your parents or someone else you love a call, and don’t forget to spend quality time with yourself. There’s so many ways that you can create or enjoy quality time.
For example: Treat yourself after a hard day, take a walk, or spend some time alone doing something you like. Also, try and take meaning out of even the smallest things you do with friends and family. Over break I really enjoyed watching Netflix by myself. I would get all comfortable in bed and really tune into the show I was watching. What was an added bonus was that my mom was watching the same show at home. We would call each other to talk about it or occasionally watch an episode together. To me that was quality time! We all have our own different struggles, but one thing that’s the same no matter who we are, is that we are victims of time. Life moves on, so why not take a moment and enjoy some of your time and make sure you’re spending it with, or on, the people and things that you love.
I hope everyone here at Naz had a fulfilling winter break — whether you got to try something new or fell back into an old routine — and most importantly that you got to learn more about yourself and have fun!
