Holiday season is here!

Summer has finally stripped itself of its leaves and unleashed its breeze to reveal the many shades of the seasons to come. With the drop in temperature and the shift in color palette comes the holidays! There’s so much to look forward to. There’s the mouthwatering food, family and friends for starters. Not to mention, a much-needed break from the lectures and hand crippling papers. This will also be a great time to decompress and re-familiarize yourself with life outside of school. Students tend to get so wrapped up in work that they neglect the other aspects of their life.

I stay in off campus housing.

Most days I bunk there and seldomly visit my family because it’s easier for me to commute from where I stay to campus. So, it’ll be great to see their faces. I’ll be able to get reacquainted with the parts of me that I’ve left unattended since I started school. Most of my days will consist of relaxing while drifting off into musical obscurity. Other days you’ll likely catch me out with my younger cousins, much akin to siblings. We’ll be giggling and goofing around, just as we did before left them behind. Some days I’ll even find myself talking to my grandmother and my father, catching them up on my life. We’ll get into who I’ve met, what I’ve learned, and giving them a brief synopsis on campus life. 

There are also a slew of things that I engaged in, that I’m excited to get back to.

For instance, basking in the sunlight while taking in the beautiful fall scenery on a hike. Or sketching and watching as each pen stroke, my hand creates a piece of art. School, for many, is an imperative part of their future, but what gets you further is being a well rounded individual. We must take time to pay heed to the facets of ourselves that may not concern school, or our particular major. 

My holiday will of course consist of me spending time with loved ones.

But I will also be taking some much needed time to myself to decompress. I want to come back to school refreshed and prepared for the work I have to do. I’ll be better suited to perform the tasks required for me to succeed this year if I’m satisfied with the other parts of my life. Burnout is real and I’d like to avoid it at all cost, but at the end of the day the holidays are spent how you see fit. So, what are you doing this holiday season?

Zada Luby is a first-year student at Gwinnett Technical college, she’s a nursing major who loves art, nature, and helping her community grow. Follow her interests and more here.