Published Jan. 18, 2006 in "The Oklahoma Daily"
Some people would say that college has been less enjoyable than high school. For most, however, high school pales in comparison. But no matter which camp they are from, almost everyone would agree that college is different from previous schooling.
Some differences are pretty obvious, such as living within sight of many of your classes or having classes in separate buildings all over campus. Others are more subtle, like having a different state of mind or being more mature -- some of the time anyway.
As numerous as said differences are when classes are in session, it was a little surprising to encounter them during break, as well.
There are actually quite a few things that distinguish the schoolchildren's Christmas break of years past from the college students' winter break.
I suppose the first would be the name. Regardless of our high school's official term, most of us called our two-week reprieve from lockers and classrooms simply "Christmas break." However, on the OU campus, it's rare to hear that name; "winter break" seems to be the preferred term.
Perhaps this is a realization of the religious diversity of OU students; some regard Dec. 25 as simply the day after Dec. 24 and don't remember ever decorating a tree.
Or maybe this is just because this college vacation is much longer and far outlasts the traditional Christmas season.
Getting past the name, said break is different because it is just that; a complete break from classes. Unlike high school, there are no projects to finish, no papers to write and no finals to worry about in early January.
That last one will ring especially true to those of you fortunate enough to have gone to school in the Oklahoma City area during the last two or three years. It seemed there was more to do over break than when school was actually open.
The college winter break is a welcome change. It's nice knowing that first semester is done, finished, with grades finalized and recorded and, more importantly for some, that they have no effect on second semester grades.
The college break is undoubtedly a better deal for students. Now break is exactly that -- a vacation.
Almost all of us have close high school friends that are attending other, often far-away colleges. The only time we can hang out with them is during long breaks when they are home again.
This is a far cry from high school where we likely saw each other most every day, in and out of school. Thus, winter break serves as a mini-reunion with old friends at favorite hangouts.
This is made all the better by the length of the break. Twice as many days means twice as many parties, movies, Hornets games, whatever.
Although it is true that good friends can pick up right where they left off, it is a bit unnerving knowing that this reunion will probably be the last time everyone is together in one place until spring break, or even summer.
As a freshman, I call the dorms "home" during school. As such, I have to pack up everything I might need during break and cart it home with me. Most other freshmen are in the same boat.
Students living at home or older students living in their own apartments need not worry so much about this. But, for those of us that carry clothes, laptops, perishable food, etc., back to wherever home is often feel that second semester is a brand new school year.
A large part of this is that moving everything back once the dorms open in January brings back repressed memories of the chaotic August move-in day and hefting all your belongings up several flights of stairs because the elevators were slow and crowded.
A combination of all of these certainly makes this, my first winter break in college, feel different than any high school Christmas break.
Perhaps this is because of my first semester experiences in a new, much larger environment. Maybe it's because I saw close friends for the first time in months.
Or maybe it's simply because I had enough free time, thanks to the longer break, to actually reflect on why this break was different. Whatever the reason, it definitely was different.
This brings up the first point, in terms of college and high school, does different mean better, or worse? Many of you likely have your own answer to this, either from the experience of multiple years in college or from some epiphany somewhere along the way.
If you ask me, when it comes to my winter break, different is definitely better.
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