A Few Excellent Reasons College Freshmen Look Forward to Thanksgiving Break

Many of the same students who just a year ago were stressing over college applications and mystifying essay prompts are finally home for a well-deserved Thanksgiving break.

While Mom’s cooking and a miraculously clean bathroom rank high on the lists of reasons why freshmen look forward to the holiday, it might surprise some prospective college students how much life changes and why home looks pretty good after a couple of months in a dorm.

For those who wonder, here are a few excellent reasons college freshmen look forward to coming home for Thanksgiving:

• At home, mashed potatoes and stuffing aren’t served with an ice cream scoop.
• As long as mom is in charge, you won’t run out of underwear.
• It’s really unlikely that dad will schedule a midnight fire drill or set off the smoke detector for fun.
• No one will ask to borrow your class notes, calculus book, DVD, or iPod.
• You won’t be sleeping on the common room sofa because your roommate is “entertaining.”
• There’s no need to wear flip flops in the shower or worry about who’s using your soap.
• Mom isn’t likely to prank you.
• You don’t have to pole vault into a bed lofted 2 feet above your head.
• Laundry facilities may be available other than between 3 and 4 am; quarters or other forms of payment should not be required.
• Access to a car should be within the realm of possibility.
• You don’t have to put on a coat and trek across the lawn in the freezing cold for breakfast.
• The party down the hall probably won’t go on all night.
• The furry creature under your bed is most likely the family cat and not a 3-month accumulation of dust bunnies.
• A student ID will not be required to get in the house or to gain access to your bedroom.
• No one in your family will bang on your door after midnight and want to “talk.”
• Earplugs won’t be necessary to block out your roommate’s loud music, snoring, and/or video games.
• You can answer your mom’s text messages in person.

And for better or worse, Thanksgiving dinner will not be served on a slightly damp plastic tray.

Welcome home to all those who are fortunate enough to get there!

Image from Jelene's Photostream on Flickr