The Diary Game: After the Holidays: Finding My Rhythm Back in School 14/12026

Hello SteemCameroon family, warm greetings to everyone here. I hope the new week is meeting you well and for those of us that are still students I hope resumption is treating you gently. After the holiday break, I resumed back to school yesterday evening, and honestly, the hostel welcomed me with full resumption vibes. Dust everywhere, bags scattered like they were dropped in a hurry, and that familiar feeling that everyone just arrived and postponed proper arrangement for “later.” My own things were not spared either. Once I dropped my bag, I looked around and laughed a little because the room clearly needed attention.

The school environment. Lots of student resumed surprisingly

But at that moment, I knew I wasn’t doing anything yet. I was tired from the journey, hungry, and not feeling too strong health-wise. To make it more interesting, I had early classes today, so stressing myself that night didn’t make sense. I chose rest over pressure, ate, and lay down, telling myself that everything could wait till morning.
This morning came quickly. I headed for classes with the room still looking exactly the way I left it.

First class of the day as early as 8am

After lectures, I returned, ate again, and slept for a bit. Sometimes, the best productivity move is rest. When I woke up feeling better, that was when I knew it was time to face the room.
Before starting, I spoke with my roommates and made sure everyone arranged their bags properly. Some bags had been left to block some lockers, others stacked awkwardly, so once everyone placed their things where they belonged, the space already felt different. It was a small step, but it changed everything.

How the room looked. It was worse than this actually, started lifting bags before remembered to take this photo

I then swept the room thoroughly, washed where necessary, and rearranged things slowly. Nothing rushed, nothing aggressive — just steady movement. As I worked, I kept thinking about how shared spaces require shared responsibility. School life doesn’t always teach us big lessons loudly; sometimes it whispers them through moments like this.

By the time I was done, the room felt calmer. Breathing felt easier, and my mood lifted. It wasn’t just about cleanliness; it was about taking control of my environment again after the holiday pause. That simple act of order helped me mentally reset for the semester ahead.

The room after all the hardwork

One thing resumption continues to teach me is balance. Knowing when to rest and when to act is a skill. Growth isn’t always about doing everything immediately; sometimes it’s about doing the right thing at the right time. I didn’t force myself when my body wasn’t ready, but when I felt better, I stepped up — not just for myself, but for everyone sharing the space.
Moments like these remind me that personal growth in school isn’t only about academics. It’s also about responsibility, cooperation, and learning how to live with others peacefully. These are habits that quietly prepare us for life beyond campus.
I’m glad I took the day the way I did, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week with a clearer mind and a cleaner space.

So I’d love to hear from you — when you resume after holidays, do you prefer to rest first or arrange everything immediately? And how do you manage shared spaces with roommates.