It’s that time of year again. The time for premature Christmas commercials, Walmart stampedes, and numerous family gatherings within a VERY short time period. It is allegedly called the holiday season. But this year, I am feeling like a bit of a Grinch. It could be the fact that my clothes are starting to be too tight from the freshman 15, or that my GPA is too low, or that my roommates have been playing Christmas music since October 3 times too loud. Either way (except I said 3 possibilities) I am not feeling the Christmas (I mean holiday-is my editor a member of the PC police?) spirit. As the last month of the year approaches, here is why I am not looking forward to the extreme lack of school during breaks.

1. That awkward period of two weeks between breaks

My friend recently developed a proposal: if the school year started two weeks earlier, then winter break could be from thanksgiving to New Year’s. With this two week period of classes, I feel like senioritis has struck again, as I am simply waiting for break to start again.

2. Being one of the last to leave for break

Have you ever seen Harry Potter? If not, turn on ABC Family. It’s probably on 25 Days of Christmas right now, because for some reason one Christmas scene per movie makes them all Christmas movies. Anyway, being the last to leave for break is like being at Hogwarts for break. There’s nobody around, and if you are, it’s only because your family doesn’t love you enough to let you skip your last classes. Ultimately, I end up eating all the food in the dining hall like Crabbe and Goyle in the Chamber of Secrets (I don’t care if you don’t get the reference).

3. Christmas shopping

It’s not that I don’t like giving, it’s just that I seem to lack the ability to think of others. Finding gift ideas is not one of my specialties. I refuse to give gift cards, because that’s basically saying I do not want to think of something to give you. Still, thinking of something better than socks can be difficult. Then again, that’s what Dumbledore wanted (bam Harry potter reference number 2).

4. Hosting the Christmas Party

Have you ever tried hosting a major family Christmas party? It’s like being an elf who hasn’t finished making toys on Christmas Eve. My mom is constantly giving me chores- keep the younger cousins away from the gifts, make sure the uncles don’t drink all of the eggnog, make sure you tell everyone exactly how your first semester went. By the time the party ends, it’s already Christmas, and I realize pretty quickly Santa doesn’t come at midnight.

5. New Year’s

New year’s eve is one of my least favorite holidays. The passing of time never feels different, and yet we’re supposed to celebrate because another day passes. And don’t even get me started on a new year’s kiss. Putting a deadline on me finding the right girl? I think the world might end if that actually happened, and I don’t want to start off 2016 in a bad way.

Other than that, winter break is a time when college students can spend quality time with friends and family for a few weeks without any work hanging over their heads. Plus there are two holidays, one centered around spreading joy. I’m starting to understand where the Grinch was coming from when he eventually saved those toys. He just needed the semester to end.