First Year Experience & Students in Transition

Surviving University Breaks

Preparing to leave UMD for a week, a month or a summer at home is a mixed experience for many of us. Often we envision expectations of close, joyful family gatherings, a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, or exciting trips to foreign places. For many of us, however, there is some anxiety about going home: family conflict, loneliness, boredom or the demands of spreading yourself between family and friends. Many students work during their break, complicating the issue even further. Some students are homesick for their friends back at school, and chafe under the rules and roles of the family home.

Here are some ideas about surviving a University break:

Keep your expectations realistic.
When anticipation and expectations are too high, they can be unreachable, and we feel disappointed, hurt, and angry.

Plan out your time at home.
No one can plan or predict every moment, but have a general sense of what you want to accomplish over the break, whether you're at home for a short time or for months. Determine how much time you will work, how much time you will spend with family, and how much time you want to spend with friends.

Talk about your plans with your family before you go home.
It can be a disconcerting experience to have planned out your break, and then arrive home and realize your family has a different agenda for you. It's easier and more respectful if you and your family have shared your expectations ahead of time. Talk with your family about the challenges that will arise out of being independent at school versus your family's expectation that you fall back into the family routines.

Remember that you're a student, and that it's unlikely that you have a large disposable income.
Avoid breaking your budget by getting caught up in the frenzy of shopping, presents (during the holidays) and going out with friends. Keep your budget in mind.

Keep a sense of perspective and humor.
We're talking about a few weeks or months, not a lifetime. Everyone you come in contact with has different thoughts, expectaions, ideas, and reactions. Recognize them, avoid taking them personally, and enjoy the differences.

Some tips from the Counseling Program at UMD Health Services