“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.” – Edith Sitwell
I came back to Hoboken a week before the first day of classes, which gave me a chance to settle back in before the semester and reflect on my winter break. Before that, I had done more traveling than expected, being in my hometown for Christmas, on vacation a few days later, and in various parts of New Jersey to ring in the New Year with my girlfriend and some friends from Stevens.
It was great to see so many people—extended family members, close family friends, some of my old friends from high school, and people I’ve become close with during college–but I also felt a bit of unease through it all. I realized it would be my last winter break as an undergrad, followed by my last semester before graduation. My conversations with various people about my plans and hopes for the future were a constant reminder of how close the future is.
For me, breaks can also be overwhelming in terms of the work waiting ahead once the time off ends. I know that this semester will still be busy, even though it’s my last, and since I’m close to graduating, everything will probably feel like more of a time crunch. I got a decent head start on work for the semester towards the end of the break, but that was difficult too, as I also wanted enough time to rest and spend quality time with others in a work-free setting.
In spite of all that, I did take a lot of positives from winter break, and I hope to remember them in the semester going forward. In some ways, it was nice having the same conversation about the future over and over again with the different people I saw. Every time, the other person offered words of support and encouragement – and sharing my story so much reminded me of the excitement I have for what’s next, even if it’s daunting.
Moreover, this break offered a nice prelude to the greater transition that will happen for me after this semester. I spent an equal amount of time between Hoboken and the town I grew up in, which showed me I’m more than capable of having multiple homes. As I hear back from the Ph.D. programs I applied to, I’ll know whether I’m going to have the chance to make a third home, but I’ve done it before, each time loving my community and being accepted for who I am. So, I am hopeful this third chance will also go well.
I always worry about writing this column as a sort of representative for my year, since my experience may be very different from another senior. I know, for instance, some people don’t like going back home for break, some people have a clearer picture of what they’re doing after graduation (huge congrats to them!), and some may feel more discouraged by the impending future. But regardless of how winter break was, I hope we can each cling to our homes (whatever home may look like), and our own positives and passions, as we begin one final wild and crazy semester.
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