A freshman from Bloomington took to Twitter early this week with an astonishing self-revelation.
Only four days into winter break, she wrote: "I can't wait to go back to the U!"
For college students, the long-awaited Christmas vacation can stir up unexpected emotions, experts say. When they're finally back home, they may discover they're suddenly homesick for school.
At the University of Minnesota, advisers have created a special tip sheet for parents to help them survive winter break. It's a little like their tip sheet for surviving Thanksgiving, which comes with its own set of stresses. But because it's a lot longer, winter vacation may hold some surprises.
"The first few days of break, parents worry because their student is sleeping so much," says the U's parent advice page, "Holiday Suggestions for Parents of College Students."
In some ways, the U's advisers say, excessive sleepiness is only natural as students recover from the tension of final exams. But it can also be a coping mechanism as they struggle to fit back into old routines.
Sometimes, the transition can be more challenging than expected. "They will wander into the kitchen, have something to eat, and then be at a loss as to how to relate to the family," the tip sheet says. "A nap provides an escape … ."
At some point, college students often start to feel estranged from some of their old friends, which can be unsettling in itself, said Marjorie Savage, the U's parent program director. "There's a realization that the friends they had in high school just don't quite match up," she said. "By second year, their real friends tend to be their friends from [college]." As a result, the holiday reunions they once looked forward to can feel like a letdown. "They realize they have more in common with college friends, and this can bring on feelings of loneliness and separation," the tipsheet says.
