Opinion

Spring Break Plans

Spring break is right around the corner – a week full of no exams, classes, and papers. I am personally looking forward to going home, going to bed super late, and waking up late as well.

There is nothing like being in your own home, sleeping in your own bed, and being surrounded by your family to recharge your social battery after the first half of the semester. I can’t wait to see my parents and brother, who I have not seen for a substantial amount of time.

Spring break is a great time to see your friends from home as well. Over break, I will message all my friends and try to hang out with them as much as possible, go to the beach, watch movies, play video games, and much more.

I have been very stressed because of midterms, so I am very excited to go home. This was the first semester where I had a lot of midterms to take in-person, so it felt unusual compared to past semesters. I am accustomed to exams being given online. Most of my previous classes didn’t even have exams because they were project-based, which I usually did well on. Midterms this semester have been not the greatest, so I want to take my mind off school and enjoy my free time over spring break.

I do not have any unique plans over the break. I don’t plan to go to Florida, which is probably what most college students are doing. I just don’t want to travel right now, given the circumstances surrounding COVID. There will be so many people at the beaches no matter where you go, especially if it hits 60 degrees here in New Jersey. I’m also expecting more crowds because of how COVID has declined.

It may be good for me to get out more over the break, and I suspect that many other college students can relate. I usually spend most of my time in my room completing assignments and studying for exams. When I’m not in my dorm, I’m in class or at the gym.

No one wants to be outside right now, especially when it’s cold and windy out. If there is a day or two where the weather is nice, I might go for a long walk with my dogs or go bicycling around the park to take in nature.

The only foreseeable downside to spring break is the possibility of COVID cases spiking again. I don’t want to be negative in saying that, but it is always possible.

I suspect that the University will probably have students get tested once they have returned, and the booster shot is now mandatory if you want to stay in dorms or go to classes. The possibility of COVID spiking is low, but it still could potentially happen.

The biggest thing I want to get out of my spring break is to have fun enjoying the things I like to do with the people I love the most. I don’t want to worry about any responsibilities or school work for the whole week. I’m hoping this will put my mind at ease and prepare me for the rest of the semester.

I’m still shocked that the University didn’t give us a spring break last year. I understand that the circumstances surrounding COVID were very different, but I think back and question how I survived not getting a break for a week.

I consider myself to be a dedicated and hardworking student. I have never felt more mentally drained than I have during this semester, and it’s not even over. Perhaps it is because the further into college you get, the more difficult it becomes. Maybe I have taken on too much, or maybe it’s a buildup of COVID-related circumstances and the workload from my classes.

I hope you all enjoy your spring breaks, are safe, have fun, and most importantly, don’t do any kind of schoolwork.