Today: Nov 14, 2024

Back to the grind after a short break

Photo Courtesy | franklypenn.com

Kelsey Mix – Copy Editor

We all know that relieving feeling of slamming your pencil on your desk after taking your last final exam and saying as quietly as possible to yourself, “done.” You’re finally finished with the “Semester from Hell” and you’re ready to head home that night to your family and friends that you grew up with since the sandbox days.

Some of us feel liberated and are looking forward to relaxing on the couch for a month or going out every night and partying because, well…you can.

Sleeping until noon every day and not doing any homework seem to be the most popular activities amongst break-ridden students; which sounds quite fantastic, to say the least.

Who doesn’t want to relax for an entire month? Not having to worry about projects, classes or various club meetings can be stress relieving in itself; the movie marathons and holiday parties aren’t too bad either.

Although that sounds so tempting, there is one important con to this peaceful temporary lifestyle. Laziness. Yes, winter break is for winding down after the fall semester, but after about a week of sitting around doing nothing, I get a little restless.

Besides, it’s not good for your body or state of mind if all you do is sit on your couch watching Friends reruns and eating Cheetos for hours on end. By the time you need to head back to school, it’s going to be a pretty grueling experience when you try to get up for your 8 a.m. class.

But while these lucky kids enjoy their winter break, the other half of broke college students aren’t so fortunate. They get to go back to work. This is where you would’ve found me over the break.

I worked 40 hours each week for four weeks when I was home. Instead of sitting on my butt in front of the television, I sat on my butt in front of a computer for $14 an hour—you do the math.

Photo Courtesy | franklypenn.com
Photo Courtesy | franklypenn.com

With all the expenses that come with attending college, it’s very convenient to have a job to go home to. Paying for books, dues for my sorority, groceries and the occasional shopping trip makes money pretty tight for a sophomore.

The only problem with my break was that it didn’t end up being much of a break at all. Waking up at six o’clock Monday through Friday isn’t the ideal vacation schedule for any normal college student.

While we’re all sleeping or working, there are students that are getting up at that same time to go right back to Southern. Students utilize these few weeks to take some classes that they might need for a grade replacement, to graduate on time, or to simply knock out one of those tier classes we all know and love.

The only setback with taking an intersession class—I believe—is a financial one. I wanted to take an online geography class, but when I found out that three weeks of online map quizzes would cost over $1,300, I decided to take six classes this semester instead.

If you can afford to take an intersession class and absolutely need it for whatever reason, go for it, more power to you.

If I had another week of break, I’m not sure if I would choose to use it to relax, work even more or take a class. Which would you choose? If it meant having more money in your pocket or another three credits under your belt, would you wake up at an ungodly hour or would you rather veg out for another seven days?

There are, no doubt, countless ways to spend your winter break; whether they’re productive or not. Me personally, I just wish I went somewhere warm.

 

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