Spring break is quickly approaching and Syracuse University students are itching for a buffer in the middle of a hectic semester. With no long weekends or days off since classes have resumed, it’s easy to see why the overwhelming majority of our community members are eagerly awaiting the interlude, regardless of plans.

For many, spring break serves as an opportunity to travel and let off steam. Destinations such as Miami, Cancun and Punta Cana serve as hotspots for college kids who are looking to have a week of fun with no scholarly responsibilities. But somewhat lost in the lore of “spring breaking” is the fact that spring break is, well, a break. Therefore, students shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting to rest, especially if it serves their best physical and mental interests.

Everyone has different needs when it comes to their well-being. While the remedy for some students may be a week of partying on the coast, others might just need to wind down, and there is nothing wrong with either option. However, due to the party culture of college life, the popularity of going with friends on a wild spring break vacation makes the prospect of returning home seem taboo.

No set of collegiate cultural standards should make students feel as if doing what’s best for their personal success is not a valid decision. If returning home for the break is what’s best for you to recuperate, that’s all the justification you need. With something as trivial as bypassing a bender at the beach, it’s even more reasonable to tune out others’ opinions and prioritize your rest.

SU has also been deemed one of America’s top party schools by multiple outlets, meaning that parties are not only available to students over spring break. Additionally, because students are balancing social life with academic life throughout the semester, they shouldn’t feel bad about taking spring break to rest.

College students are also likely to be going out or doing work instead of capitalizing on downtime while on campus. One of the traits SU is known for is having a “work hard, play hard” environment. It often feels as if we have a six-day week with Sunday to recover. Adhering to this type of lifestyle for an extended period of time is physically taxing, as there is a level of general exhaustion in turn. You should feel no humiliation in giving your body the week to decompress.

Beyond just getting the physical rest, taking a mental pause from the ever-moving life on a college campus is therapeutic. Yes, your body may need to just lay down and unwind, but it also never hurts to have no need for a charged social battery. Removing yourself from the need to feel productive or social is just as legitimate of a need as getting sleep. Take joy in having an excuse to be shamelessly relaxed: something that is rarely achieved on a college campus.

Enjoy time with your family, catch up with friends or eat at your favorite restaurants. But most of all, don’t feel like you’re wrong for doing so. By the time we return, there’s roughly a month and a half of classes left and whatever way you spend the break before this home stretch is an individual decision. For those who are not going on an intense spring break trip, there is no reason to not be self-assured in your decision.

Jonah Weintraub is a freshman broadcast, digital journalism major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at jsweintr@syr.edu

Published on March 10, 2022 at 1:29 am