The Spectrum

Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Perspectives

Media Credit: Elyse Harrell Getting back into the swing of school is not always an easy transition from the fun times that the summer holds for many students.

As summer's end draws near, the bitter-sweet feeling of returning to school overwhelms college students across America. One particular student who knows this feeling all too well is Student Events Team, SET, Vice President, Kelly Linskey, Junior, Seal Beach. Calif.

Linskey's situation is unique, considering the fact that she makes the journey to SHU all the way from California.

For every college student, the nerve-racking feeling of leaving home begins to set in around mid-August. It seems that once students begin to feel comfortable at home again, Labor Day Weekend puts a halt to those feelings of comfort.

"I was not ready to come back, I wanted to spend more time in California," said Linskey. "I wasn't looking too forward to classes and being busy all the time."

An understandable statement for someone with the burden of balancing both classes and running one of the biggest organizations at Sacred Heart.

For many students, the most common reasons for fearing school are the absence of family and friends. Weather is usually not a dramatic difference since many of the students that attend SHU are from the Northeast Region.

Linskey, however, is accustomed to the luxury of a gorgeous climate on almost a daily basis.

"I also miss the weather. I really hate knowing that it will be cold in November while it is still 75 degrees, sometimes even 80 degrees in Cali," said Linsky.

Through all Linskey's fears, she was still excited to return to SHU.

"I was looking forward to getting back into the structure of the school year," said Linskey.

While Linskey's story is unique in its own way, there is a strong parallel with her story to so many other students here at SHU.

Whether a student is from California or Connecticut, there is an almost unfair feeling of division that grows from the time spent at home and at school.

After being with classmates for nine months from all over the United States, the repetition of school becomes more of a familiar lifestyle. Then to abandon it suddenly and become familiar with home again is a process that toys with a young person's emotions.

It seems that home does not feel like home again until late in the summer, when college is lurking around the corner.

More credit should be given to students who are asked to leave home earlier then others and jump head-first into the swing of school. That being said, awe is credited to one, Kelly Linskey, who not only leaves her home, friends, family, and comfortable climate but has the responsibilities of running an organization back at SHU.

While all the fears of college come into play, students are still coming back, and in record numbers. SHU has grown in class size in the past three years with each year being a record number of students.

"I am glad to be back," said Linskey

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