As my close friend Trey Songz would say, “Bottoms up, bottoms up, ey, what’s in ya cup, got a couple bottles, but a couple ain’t enough.” While these lyrics could describe a typical Friday night in College Park, they are even more appropriate when talking about spring break. Because, sun up or sun down, this past week, we did what we wanted.
Get out of bed, drink. Go out on the beach, drink some more. Go to the pool, drink even more. Get caught by the cops, drink some more until you pass out. Wake up from passing out,and repeat. That’s the lifestyle some have became accustomed to over break. I forgot about all work and school until, well, now.
After a week of relaxation, returning to class today feels like a slap in the face to me, and I’m sure to many of you out there, too. After all, I had gotten a taste of freedom and a head start on my tan. (And yes, by tan I mean a darker shade of red, because, let’s face it, I could probably get sunburned in a blizzard.) In fact, the break almost reminded me of that coveted season known as summer. Even the idiotic laws in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that prohibited liquor sales after 7 p.m. couldn’t stop the party for me.
But now, here we all are: back in school, sullen-faced, depressed and procrastinating more than ever. We had our freedom from school, but all of that has dissipated as the professors have once again taken control of our souls. It is this feeling that creates the spring break blues. Break is over, and the only thing standing in the way of summer is about 10 papers, eight exams and more questions of how these classes you are taking help you with your major. No biggie.
Now as you read along, you may ask me, “Josh, how do I beat these spring break blues?” Oh, I am glad you asked! My answer is you can’t. I hope I didn’t get your expectations up.
I mean, I guess we could start pretending there are actual clubs and bars here that aren’t crap. And I guess we could pack up those lawn chairs or Walmart beach towels and head to the beach — LaPlata Beach that is. But you would have to bring those free water bottles Dining Services used to give out to fill with salt water as a substitute for the ocean. And I guess you could join those few people who pregame classes in their festivities, but I feel like it may not work out too well.
The truth is, spring break is just a tease. It is a necessary and fun tease, but a tease nonetheless. One minute you are lounging on the beach, and the next you are sitting in an hour-and-15-minute-long lecture trying desperately not to fall asleep. And to make matters worse, as the weather warms up, you will still be summoned to sit in your cave and try to remember different equations, or in my case, different theories of communication.
The party scene here in College Park doesn’t compare to anything many of us experienced while away for spring break. In fact, the city of College Park is about as exciting as listening to Rebecca Black’s “Friday” on repeat. Nothing can bring back that freedom spring break gave us all now. The next two months will be rough, yes, but it is nothing a nice box of Franzia and a 30 pack can’t cure.
Josh Birch is a junior communication and history major. He can be reached at birch at umdbk dot com.
