With Thanksgiving Break right around the corner, one should realize that also means that Winter Break is not too far behind. This semester for some has felt like an eternity and for other's it has flown by. Fall Semester is about to head into the final stretch and as soon as that final bubble is filled in or that final paper is turned in, not only can you finally take a sigh of relief but can also give into the excitement that has been building up all semester. With Winter Break on its way, there is so much to be excited about. Some people see it as bittersweet and yes while the fun you had with your classmates will be missed, there is so much to look forward to with Winter Break.

5. You get to go home.

I know everyone is different. Some people love the life away from home while others miss their own bed. I also understand that it is nice to be out on your own and get away from the family but there are also a lot of perks to being home that you should take into account. First off, you get to have a real meal as opposed to all that take out or dining hall food you have eaten all semester. As great as a late night pizza is, nothing beats a home cooked meal. And the best part of a home cooked meal is that you get it for free! Next perk, you get to sleep in your own room where you can actually control the temperature of the room as well as not having to clean up after your roommate. And the best perk is you have your family around you, especially your parents, who you can rely on to get you anything you need that you can't get for yourself. I know there are some people that hate their home towns and can't wait to go back to school but I'm sure even they have to admit every now and then they get a little home sick. Being home after a long semester is just what you need to recharge those batteries that have been completely drained from finals week.

4. The holidays are upon us.

Like the song says, "It's the Most Wonderful Time Of the Year." The holiday season is upon us (or at least that's what all the stores are saying). I know how excited I get every year for the holidays. The decorations, the Christmas songs (unless you work in retail and have to hear them over and over again) and that feeling of holiday cheer. Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, this is a time to get excited for. Now I know the holidays are about much more than that. They're that time of year to just be grateful for all that you have and being able to spend it with the ones that you love. Rekindle those holiday traditions you have with your family. Sitting around an open fire watching old holiday classics like "Elf" or "Charlie Brown," whatever it may be! The holidays are a special time of year that are an added bonus to Winter Break and it makes it so much sweeter to end school during this time. Where you only have to worry about Christmas shopping rather than writing an eight-page research paper. If school sucked the joy out of you, then allow the holidays to bring that joy back!

3. You get to reunite with your friends.

I know one thing I look forward to the most, is being able to see all my friends again. After a whole semester apart (set aside a few trips between schools) there's a lot to catch up on. Nothing feels any greater than being able to see your best friends after a long time apart. After about five minutes, it feels like nothing's changed. Getting to hear stories of your friends' crazy adventures ranging from a concert to a late night run at a McDonald's drive thru, there is always a story. Being able to have your friends only five minutes away as opposed to a 40 minute to an hour long drive is a great thing. I know I can't wait to be have my friends around to do whatever we want. Whether it'd be a drive around town looking for some food, a night at the movies, or just sitting on the couch and shooting the breeze. Whatever it may be, having your friends home for a month is something I look forward to every year when the Fall Semester starts and you should too!

2. You get to reunite with family.

Now your friends are not the only ones to get excited about seeing. Now before I said everyone gets a little home sick, well your bed is not the only the thing that you miss. Your family is your greatest support system and are the ones that have and will always be there for you no matter what. All that time away from home and being on your own really makes you appreciate having your family around even more. Who doesn't love mom's cooking, or watching sports with dad, or even playing video games with your brother or sister. Every moment you can spend with your family is something to cherish and its great to be able to make time for them as much as you can. I said before that the holidays are a time for being with the ones you love. Being able to sit around the Christmas tree with family is something I look forward to every year. When finals week gets to be too much, the one thing that can always get you through it is the thought that once these finals are finished, you'll be able to go home and complain to your family about how much they sucked.

1. You get to relax for a MONTH.

Like I said before, Finals Week sucks! All that work you put in during the semester can become too much and at one point it seems like it will never end. But here's the thing... it does! And when it does that feeling is the best feeling in the world! Especially when you soon realize that once finals are done, so is all the school work. No more lectures, no more papers, no more home work, nothing! A nice well deserved break for all that hard work. And the best part is that break lasts a MONTH. I know that may not sound like that long but it's still enough to recharge those batteries. Enough time just kick back and relax. Enjoy some time with family and friends. Catch up on all that sleep you lost during the semester. Knowing that a month without class and having to do classwork is almost here is what has gotten me through finals week.

With Thanksgiving Break almost here, so begins the countdown to Winter Break. I know finals week also comes along with that but once you make it through that week of hell, it's no worries for a month. So enjoy your Thanksgiving Break, a small taste of what's to come. For those who are ready to be finished with school, just hang on a little bit longer and you will get that long break that you deserve. And get pumped! The holidays are almost here!