It's that time of year when the residence halls close and classes come to a halt. Campuses are closed across the nation in order to celebrate the beloved Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving could not come at a more perfect time for college students everywhere. This is the last break before finals, a time to detox from the pressure of school, and a time to enjoy good food for a change. Yes, we all love college and being independent, but let's be honest, we missed home. Here's 30 reasons why we love having five, long days off.

1. Food.

I mean, do I even have to explain?

2. Big, comfy bed.

If you are a freshman or still live on campus, most likely you are sleeping on a mattress that years and years and years of bodies have slept on. Your bed at home is all yours and 10 times cozier.

3. Cuddling in the morning with your dog.

Nothing is better than laying in bed and your tired little dog coming to lay right next to you. It makes your heart simply happy.

4. Endless shopping trips.

Since you are only home for five days, you need to hit every single store you haven't been to all semester. EIU doesn't have a Target, so the first thing I did back home was spend an hour in there. The rest of the week I am sure to hit the mall, outlet stores, and Target again.

5. Getting to hang out with your parents.

Now that we are all at college, your parents seem to actually be cool now. You finally realize how they were before they had you. You actually missed seeing them; a feeling you never thought you would have.

6. Seeing your grandparents.

If you are still lucky enough to have your grandparents around, you love seeing them too. They are there for a warm hug, good desserts, and maybe a couple extra bucks.

7. Catching up with friends.

You love your friends back at school, but you always need your high school friends too. Even though we have all drifted our separate ways, the friendships remain the same.

8. Long, hot showers.

Poor college students need to watch how long they shower or their water bill will go through the roof. You no longer care about bills once your parents are paying for your water. You better believe I'll be standing under the nice, hot water for however long I want.

9. No more classes.

We are all at the point when we cannot even stand waking up and dragging ourselves to class. Our professors are getting on our nerves and projects are piling high. School is just awful at this point.

10. Free laundry.

Not only do you not have to pay for laundry, you don't even have to do it. Mom will just grab the basket every couple days. It's quite the luxury given the fact that you haven't done laundry for two weeks.

11. Involuntary procrastination.

Since it is Thanksgiving break, papers, projects, tests are coming fast. Luckily for us, break is an excuse to not do any of it. You may hate yourself for procrastinating once you go back, but you sure won't regret it.

12. Getting some more money.

Usually at this time of the year, your parents may feel bad for you. Once you are ready to go back to school, they may have some money to give you in hopes that you will survive finals. It's a small gesture that will by you another cup of coffee.

13. Thanksgiving!

We are off of school for one reason, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one holiday focused on eating and giving thanks. What more does a college student need? Warm food and time with family.

14. Black Friday.

With Thanksgiving comes Black Friday. Another excuse to shop, but at half price.

15. Seeing that special someone.

Whether you are in a long distance relationship or an open one, you love seeing that special someone. Instead of just quick, weekend visits, you get a long week to share with that person.

16. Relaxation at its finest.

You will be sleeping in, watching Netflix, cuddling with your dog, shopping, and pampering yourself. Our semesters have been awful, so you deserve it.

17. Drama free week.

Since I live in the chapter house with 30 other girls, there is bound to be drama. A week long break is much needed. There is way too much estrogen floating around that house.

18. Going to restaurants you haven't been to in a while.

Being stuck in the middle of Illinois for a semester, there aren't many food options. Now that I'm home, I'll be eating at Chipotle, Noodles and Co., Panera, Dunkin Donuts, etc. The opportunities are endless.

19. No more dining halls.

You no longer have to put loads of salt and pepper on anything to make it taste better. Everything you eat will taste like heaven compared to the crap they serve at the dining hall. On the other hand, I will miss Grilled Cheese Wednesday.

20. Chicago pizza.

If you are from Chicago or the suburbs, you know what good pizza is. You no longer have to suffer through that crappy pizzeria that everyone else claims to be the best pizza ever. You know what good pizza is and you'll be ordering extra larges all week.

21. Yelling for Mom or Dad.

Whenever there is a small problem, your parents are one yell away. People may tell you that you are an adult, but you aren't. This is your week to get their help because you still don't know how to make cookies without burning them.

22. Parents paying for every bill.

This is your one week when your bank account won't be at $0. Treasure it.

23. Getting the real stuff.

You no longer have to suffer through cereal that tastes like cardboard or one-ply toilet paper. You'll be chowing down on Lucky Charms or CT Crunch and using Charmin Ultra Strong. This is also quite the luxury.

24. Leftovers.

You get to go back to school with endless amounts of turkey, stuffing, yams, cranberries, and pie. Hopefully, you don't eat it all at once.

25. It's home.

We love college, but we love home just as much.