These last three weeks left on campus are really dragging on, leaving many on campus–as well as me–with a weird mix between feeling stress and relief.
This year has not been easy and these last three weeks being in-person are not helping.
With no breaks since August, the exhaustion of school, registration for next semester, leaving campus and not coming back until practically February, anxiety around the most important election (where most people’s rights are at stake) and uncertainty of the pandemic, are just some of the stressors.
We’ve known that Nov. 20 is the day: the last day of classes and the last day on campus. It’s so close but so far, which leaves me feeling conflicted.On one hand, a long break from school is welcomed. Not having to come back after Thanksgiving is great and saves me some money and gas. On the other hand, I don’t want to leave my friends and have to go back to feeling lonely.
The tangibility of the last day is just … scary.
Don’t get me wrong: I don’t want to go without seeing my friends and roommates for two months. I live in Kansas, so when I go home, I feel a little extra separated from everyone already, but leaving for months? No thanks.
The anticipation is also starting to get to me. I have a six-hour, 400-mile drive ahead of me and I struggle with anxiety when driving long distances. You gotta love the irony.
So being able to see that date on my roommate’s calendar, followed by the empty whiteboard spaces following, just adds to the stress (no hate to my roommate; thank you Emma for keeping us on track daily. I don’t know what I would do without you).
And the sheer amount of school work that needs to be done before Nov. 20? That’s enough to make me cry.
But also, a break? Finally? Insert side-eye emoji here.
We are so close to having a week off and I know that most of my friends that go to other universities usually don’t have a break until the week of Thanksgiving. Should I really be complaining?
I’m not sure, but I’m used to having fall break, so I will.
I think that the week off is well deserved for everyone. It will be a good refresher and help motivate us to finish off the semester online and at home.
At the end of the day, it’s going to be okay, and we are almost there. I can’t wait to do this all again next semester without spring break, but hopefully, everyone will have learned that no breaks is a terrible idea and we are able to have a few days off of class.
