Senior accounting and finance major
Spring break is a time to escape from school and do something exciting. We gather all of our friends, go somewhere (whether near or far) and explore the world. Some students choose to spend their breaks in warmer parts of the country, getting as far away from College Park as possible. Others go on short trips abroad, truly getting to see the globe. Many simply go home and spend time catching up with friends and family, choosing to escape the rigors of college life.
I don’t do any of these things.
Every year, when spring break comes, I do the exact same thing: absolutely nothing. When everyone else leaves campus, I stay here, relax and take the week off.
Granted, I don’t really do nothing. I sleep. I eat. I breathe. I go for walks in the sun, the rain and sometimes the snow. I take naps. I read books without any mention of either accounting or financial markets. I get my (well-earned) free Rita’s. I catch up on TV shows and movies. I take day trips around the College Park area. And when I’m done with all that, I sleep some more.
This is all part of what I call my “true break” philosophy. Spring break is the one week I get to myself; I don’t have any work due, I have no group projects to focus on, my internships haven’t started yet and I don’t have any exams for at least a week.
I have absolutely no requirements other than filling basic human needs. Why would I change that? Why would I force myself to go out into the world and do things? Or deal with the hassles of traveling? Why bother with detailed plans when I could have as much fun without any plans at all?
Granted, this isn’t for everyone. For in-state students, the costs of going home are relatively low — no bus tickets or dealing with strange passengers. And for those seeking a tan, College Park is usually the wrong place. Some people even enjoy the hassle of detailed plans and agendas and the burden of making the most of their time.
For the rest of us, though, a week off in College Park is heaven. The campus is just the right amount of empty; almost everyone you know is accessible, but the giant crowds of people you don’t know disappear. There are enough loud drunk people around for you to find a party — but not enough that you have to deal with them when you’re trying to sleep. The stores are all open, and there are never any lines. If you’re like me, you can sing loudly and awkwardly on McKeldin Mall, and no one will be around to judge you.
Finally, spring break is a great time to build a repertoire of college stories. You’re on the campus, usually with at least one friend, and because classes don’t get in the way, you get to have the craziest experiences you’ll ever have.
Though I know most of you will be long gone by this time next week, I hope to see some of you around. The few hours of the day you spend awake will be some of the best of your time here. And if I don’t see you, make the most (and the least work) out of your spring break, wherever that will be.
Ezra Fishman is a junior accounting and finance major. He can be reached at ezra.fish@gmail.com.
