IT'S THAT time of year again. The "joy" of the holiday season is upon us. In just over one week, we'll all head home for an eagerly anticipated, and in most cases, well-deserved vacation. There are a lot of wonderful things about winter break -- we have a chance to mellow out, time to spend with our families and an opportunity to reconnect with old friends.
Yet, so many of us find the holiday season depressing. Honestly, I can see how it is -- especially for us college students who are living rather transient lives. Think about it this way: you're used to living independently now, doing your own thing -- not having to answer to anybody. You can come home at 5:00 a.m. or not at all, if you choose. But suddenly all of that changes; you're taken out of your familiar surroundings and thrown back into a world that seems not to have moved since you left last.
My major concern with this is one of expectations, specifically that your family and friends have former expectations of you that will remain intact. They may not see the need to adjust to differences in your personality or lifestyle, though you are expected to conform to whatever image of you that they are holding on to. You, my friend, are not allowed to have changed.
After you get over the initial shock factor of actually being home, things will probably seem comfortable, and you may even find yourself excited. This feeling of jubilation may last for a few days -- maybe even a week if you're lucky. Your parents will tell you how much they've missed you and praise you for your accomplishments, invoking your presence at every instance of a conversation with friends or relatives.Being waited on hand-and-foot is not uncommon. For the first time in what may seem like years, you'll feel relatively free of responsibilities and obligations. Take this time to breathe -- because shortly you'll come to the realization that you're not.
Most likely that will hit you in the form of your mother waking you up at 8:00 a.m. rambling about your ridiculous sleeping patterns and how you need to do something productive, like getting a job. How are you going to survive in the "real world," after all? After a month of these conversations, you might be ready to pull your hair out -- even more than you are right now with finals approaching. You question whether or not it's fair; it's supposed to be your vacation! Even if it strikes us as unfair, it's probably good for us.
You see, we're in college, and we expect our world as well as everybody else's to revolve around us. Welcome home -- wipe your feet off before you come into the house -- and dear, don't mind the reverse culture shock.
Take what you can from the experience; this time of year is traditionally one of reflection, or more accurately, self-criticism, anyway. This will most likely be heralded by the arrival of this semester's grades, which you will inevitably check ISIS for every hour on the hour. Hopefully, disappointment won't follow -- but if it does, be prepared to start early on your resolutions. Number one: No more drinking. Really, I mean it this time. Not during the week, at least. OK fine, maybe just one night a week. Number two: Refuse to leave the library next semester, or use AIM or update your blog every five minutes. At least in the hour before you have papers due. The list goes on.
Believe it or not, all of this does have a point. Perhaps we all need to learn to take on a bit more responsibility for our own behavior, our actions, things we can control. I'm not removing myself from this burden; I recognize that I've spent a lot of time this semester complaining and offering criticism of other people, whether it be George W. Bush, the University administration or my fellow students. But now I'll have time for some long-overdue self-criticism. What can I do to affect positive change in my civic community and at our university? Maybe next semester, instead of criticizing a lack of initiative on the administration's part, I'll start one myself. What's the point of being here at all, if not that?
Now that I've succeeded in depressing you all, perk up! I promise it won't actually be ad bad as I described it. Enjoy your downtime, and be prepared to come back in January with fresh perspectives on school and yourself. 'Tis the season, after all.
Todd Rosenbaum's column usually appears Thursdays in the Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at trosenbaum@cavalierdaily.com.
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