Spring Break At Home

Spring Break, you called to me in the midst of my midterms. Night after night spent studying, writing papers, preparing presentations, you reminded me there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Friday was spent in anticipation of the relaxing week spent lying about, catching up on TV shows missed, home cooked meals, a comfortable bed, and showers with water pressure. Instead, I was immediately reminded as to why I went to college in the first place.

At my house, a free week with nothing to do means free slave labor. Whether it’s grocery shopping, cleaning, letting workmen into the house, doing laundry, or running errands, I am up at seven am required to be helping my mother, because I obviously have nothing else to do and don’t do anything at school.

As an only child, I am kept on a short leash. I have a curfew, a curfew that definitely leaves no time for real fun. I also live in Nowheresville, USA. This means there is absolutely nothing to do. I may not live too far from another college, but my friends who attend that university, do not really have time to cater to my week of nothing. Which is probably a good thing, because convincing my attention starved mother that I should socialize with people my own age is like pulling teeth. Penn State schedules their spring break so helpfully, only one of my friends is not in school. And, like myself, her parents are of the opinion that a week at home means a week of just parental/child attention and bonding time.

I do love my parents. I do! But if I have to play one more round of scrabble, I might have to drive back to Happy Valley and book myself a hotel room.

Movies and MTV tell us that spring break will be one of the most wild and crazy weeks of your life. Honestly, attending Penn State, I can’t really see that, but, as someone who went home, instead of heading off to a country with a lower legal drinking age, I am bored to tears.

Spring Break was made, maybe to give us a week free of responsibility, but it’s more of a hassle then a treat. I had to bring home books to study; I have midterms starting right up again next week. I had to figure out how to get home, when to get home, and pack a bunch of stuff to get home. I feel worthless, like I have no social life here, where as at school, it’s like I am trying to balance the multitude of things I have to do on the weekend. Also, I feel like my friends from high school don’t really understand anymore. They all went to schools that seem so different from Penn State, I feel bad for them, like they are missing out. Ultimately, I can already tell this week will be a letdown, other than the beautiful showers, well rested sleeps, unlimited laundry, home meals, and shopping trips with Mom. Ok so maybe it isn’t so bad.