As the days grow closer and closer to the holiday season, starting with a few days off for Thanksgiving break, I have found it more and more difficult to concentrate on schoolwork. Every time I think about doing work, my mind goes into a dream of waking up to holiday music playing in my house.
When I think about heading to the Hub for dinner, my taste buds start watering for homemade turkey and chocolate pecan pie. The cold weather makes my body yearn for a cozy fire, to be wrapped up in blankets, sipping on hot chocolate near a Christmas tree.
Staying concentrated is growing more and more difficult with the promise of enjoyable, relaxing times at home ahead, especially after a semester that has been filled to the max with papers, activities, social events and fun.
Naturally, after three months of giving everything I've got into making the semester the most successful it can be, I am ready for a breath.
I think that almost everyone can agree that even though school is a whirlwind, and that there really is nowhere like this place, we all need a little "home" in our life.
Going back is a lot of fun. I love reuniting with old friends, seeing where they are in there lives, returning to old favorite spots in town, catching up with my family, sleeping in my own bed in my childhood room and probably one of the most missed things, my dogs.
For a lot of reasons, in a way, school has become a home. When I leave it for a while, I do miss the friends that I have made here, I miss my favorite spots on campus, the little routines we all adopt while here.
DePauw definitely has a way of claiming a part of our hearts. As students we give this place everything we have and then some. But of course, there really is no place like the comfort of home, so even though I am always a little sad to drive away from the castle of green, the buildings of brick, and the colors of gold and black, this holiday season is coming at a perfect time and absolutely going to be a cherished time with loved ones.
When the days get long and stressful, and the work becomes a little more than you can handle, just remember, that home is around the corner and all you have to do click your heels a few times and you'll be there before you know it.
- Brinker is a sophomore from Stevensville, Mich., with an undecided major.