Going Home

College is a world unto itself. It has unique rituals, food, and even clothing. We revel in our culture, coming together every Saturday in a ceremonial march to the Big House, our common temple, and raise our fists into the air in unison. “HAIL!”, shout a hundred thousand voices. “HAIL TO THE VICTORS!”. Young or old, we are together. And when, not if, we win, we celebrate in thousand little nooks and crannies in Ann Arbor. On Saturday evening, no matter how cold, you will find a welcoming party awaiting. Even outside of those special days in the autumn months, there is a sense of unity among the student body and all the staff on campus. When you don’t know what to say, you ask about school. When an awkward silence strikes, you complain about class or the dining hall food or the lingering hangover from the raging fraternity party last night. There are endless branching references, but all come back to the University, to the thing that connects a million strangers from all over the world to this one special place. When you are on campus, it seems like the outside world ceases to exist and that this little bubble is everything.

Stepping out of that bubble during Thanksgiving break was a shock. It was a shock not only borne of the lack of overtly friendly squirrels (although that was certainly one factor), but also of the sudden lack of structure. Abruptly I was cut off from all the little things that had come to dominate my schedule. Math homework was safely tucked away. Backpack was left sadly abandoned beside the bed. I didn’t even need to hurry to the dining hall at certain times or make sure to attend a club meeting. And I realized, as I did during every break from school, that I had nothing to do with the free time that I had been so eagerly anticipating. School has been a part of my life for more than 12 years now. I may have graduated from one grade to another, but I have never outgrown the mindset. Always, it’s the next short term goal, the next assignment. I think Thanksgiving is most important because it reminds me more than ever that as overwhelming as school seems at times, there are truly more important things than homework (No, it is not binge watching the latest TV show).

So as I sat watching TV, surrounded by friends and family, I still could not help but think about homework. I don’t think I will ever shake that off (I’m a perfectionist by nature). But if I have learned anything over the course of school it hasn’t just been calculus. No, it’s been the friends and community I’ve gained along the way that has made school important to me. It’s coming to the classroom and smiling at the teacher beaming back. That is what I’m going to miss most.