After students spend hours in Earl Gregg Swem Library laboring over their grueling midterms, they look forward to some deserved rest. How they might use the week the College of William and Mary allots for spring break is a topic of debate. Not only what they should do, but the length of the break causes discourse. Is one week enough time to travel abroad? Or is one week too long to be cooped up at home?
Spring break also incites questions for students whose home is too far away to go back to. What if students can’t get out of Williamsburg and instead spend their break at the College? How can they take an academic break when they can’t even leave their academic campus?
Luckily, there are ways to optimize the week-long spring break: travel, go home or stay in the ’Burg. All three choices have unique ways for students to gain their rest and recharge before classes start up again.
The first is travel. Students at the College love to make use of their passports, taking week-long excursions to international destinations, such as Spain, Denmark and France. Students excel at packing their days full of activities while abroad so they can squeeze all the energy they have out of their break. However, there’s no need to get your passport photo redone to travel for spring break. In fact, there are many ways students can take regional, affordable trips during break.
The first location that I have seen as a common destination for students is the beach. What’s that famous phrase? I don’t need to touch grass, I need to touch the water? With Williamsburg in its annual heat wave phase, students can find relief from the sun at local-ish beaches. The first beach that comes up is Virginia Beach, as it’s only an hour from campus.
Some further options include beaches in North Carolina, our neighbor to the south, like Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Many students also choose to go even further south to Florida beaches like Cocoa Beach or even Puerto Rico to get their beach fix.
Another popular location among students is national parks. A week break is the perfect amount of time to really enjoy the outdoors and go off the grid without being out of commission for multiple weeks.
Even if you are in Williamsburg over break, you can easily take a day trip to Washington, D.C. Go around the National Mall, visit the Smithsonian museums or explore the different neighborhoods of D.C. After being cooped up in study rooms, the Slice or even dorm lounges, the College’s students crave to be outside for break.
But what if you have to go home? You can still have a restful break! I don’t mean the breaks you have between various doctor’s appointments, but, rather, intentional and fun ways to rest. Even if your hometown friends are still in school, there are ways to have a break where you don’t feel like you wasted your time.
To get out of my parents’ house, I like to go on a mission in my hometown. One of my favorites is ‘Independent Book Store Bingo.’ I make a bingo card with all of the bookstores in my area and I try to visit as many as I can until I get a bingo. This bingo concept can be applied to an infinite number of subjects. If you’re not into books, maybe try gym bingo or coffee shop bingo. The opportunities are really endless.
While you can go out and do new fun things in your hometown, sleeping in and just taking it easy in your house can be just as valuable as traveling. Break is the time to recharge your battery before you get back into a work grind till finals, so take your time and let your body rest.
Now, what if you are still on campus? You can still get rest on campus. Almost everyone is gone from campus, so the quiet can help you create your own little rest haven on campus. Take the time to explore outside of Colonial Williamsburg. Go into Midtown and New Town and see what you can find. Wandering is the best way to discover new hidden gems or familiar favorites. Some highlights of Williamsburg that I found have been Paint on Pottery, Barnes & Noble, Ucartia Creative Studios and Regal New Town.
Spring break gives students a mid-semester break to recharge for maybe even more midterms or to finish the semester strong. Whether you spent your break soaking in the sun on a beach, rotting in bed or hanging out in Williamsburg, the rest allows for students to start classes again refreshed and invigorated for the rest of the semester.
