Liam Saranich | News Editor
As Thanksgiving break approaches, college students across the country feel excitement, anxiety, and ambivalence about heading home. This time of year, there is a break in academic responsibilities, and the chance to reconnect with family brings a range of emotions that are different from student to student. What do college students experience as they prepare for the holiday break?
Many students look forward to the familiar comforts of home. For those studying away from their hometowns, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to see family members, reconnect with friends, and enjoy home-cooked meals. For first-year students especially, this break can be the first visit home since starting college, bringing relief from homesickness and comfort. Traditional parts of Thanksgiving like sharing meals, relaxing with family, and participating in annual holiday activities offer a much-needed break from the intensity of college and academic life. For many, this holiday break represents a return to routine comforts, simpler times, and shared traditions.
For many students, Thanksgiving break comes just before the final exam season. The weeks leading up to the break can be packed with deadlines, exams, and a lot of stress. A survey conducted by the American College Health Association reported that nearly 60% of students experienced overwhelming anxiety during the fall semester. The break is a chance to pause, decompress, and recharge before tackling the last push of the semester. While most students look forward to the break in the academic schedule, some students find it difficult to completely disconnect from schoolwork and may use the time to catch up on projects and study. This limits the break's restful benefits. Balancing the need to unwind from schoolwork and college life can create a sense of stress mixed with relief.
Not all students look forward to going home for Thanksgiving. For some students, returning home can be stressful, especially if family relationships are strained. Whether it is facing pressure about academics, career plans, or personal life choices, the holiday can become a source of tension instead of comfort. Discussions at the dinner table about future plans or current events may cause conflict, leaving students feeling anxious. For students who feel different from their families due to changes in their beliefs, lifestyle choices, or identity, the holiday can bring a sense of being out of place or misunderstood. For those who prefer not to return home or cannot make the trip due to cost or distance, Friendsgiving has become a popular alternative. This student-organized event allows peers to celebrate together, creating a sense of community and support. Friendsgiving offers a space for students to bond over shared experiences and celebrate in a relaxed environment.
While the idea of Thanksgiving break is filled with excitement by some, others may be apprehensive. Whether due to academic burnout, complicated family relationships, or travel challenges, the holiday brings a combination of rest, joy, and stress. Regardless of how students feel about heading home for Thanksgiving, many share the hope that the time away from campus will offer some comfort and recharge time for the weeks ahead. Thanksgiving break symbolizes more than just a holiday. It is a brief moment where students balance academic life and home life, rest and responsibility, comfort and challenge.
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