Ava Gravina ’28 is a psychology and English major at William and Mary. She swims with Club Swim and writes for the school’s pop culture magazine, The DoG Street Journal. She is from outside Boston and enjoys spending time with friends, baking, reading psychological thrillers and watching rom-coms. You can contact her at acgravina@wm.edu.
The views expressed in the article are the author’s own.
Seeing so many students walking around with their families this weekend, it was almost hard not to be jealous. Students were showing their families around campus, going out to meals off campus and introducing them to their friends. For some students, Family Weekend is an exciting opportunity to spend time with their families and show them the place they now call home. But for others, especially out-of-state students, it can be difficult to have their families visit so soon after move-in.
When I told my mom that Family Weekend was the third weekend in September, she said something along the lines of, “But I just dropped you off last month.” Of course, many parents want to come down and see their children, but it is not always that simple, especially for families who live several hours away or have to fly. For some families, another trip so soon after move-in means another expensive flight, hotel and meals.
So, maybe Family Weekend should be in the spring.
I know there are reasons why Family Weekend is scheduled in the fall. Freshmen are still settling into college, families may want to see how their children are settling in and students are not quite in the stress of midterms yet. The fall semester also has a lot going on, from Homecoming and Halloweekend to Thanksgiving and eventually winter break. But that is exactly what makes me wonder if we have too many major events packed into one semester.
The fall already gives students a lot to look forward to. The weather finally starts to cool down, Thanksgiving break approaches and, eventually, students get to go home for winter break. Meanwhile, the spring semester can feel different. While spring break gives students something to look forward to, April can sometimes feel like it drags on as students push through the final weeks of the semester.
Moving Family Weekend to the spring could give students something meaningful to look forward to during that time. It would also spread family visits out more instead of asking families to book multiple trips within a short period of time. For out-of-state students, this could make it easier for their families to visit without having to make another trip immediately after dropping them off.
Yet, while Family Weekend is supposed to be a time for students to spend time with their families, that can be difficult when students are trying to balance assignments, exams and everything else going on on campus. I know many students are likely trying to cram in as much work as possible the days before their families arrive, yet spend part of their weekend thinking about the work they still have to finish. When does the work grind ever stop?
Maybe Family Weekend could also be an opportunity for the College of William and Mary to recognize that students need a little bit of a break from the intense academics. The “One Tribe, One Family” idea is such an important part of this school, and family is a part of that community, too. Students should be able to spend time with their families without stressing too much over academics, worried about all they have to do.
Of course, there may never be a perfect time for Family Weekend. September has its advantages, and spring would have its disadvantages. But maybe the question should not simply be, “When is the best time to schedule Family Weekend?” but instead, “How can we make Family Weekend work best for the students and families?”
If Family Weekend were moved to the spring, it could give students something to look forward to, allow families to spread trips more throughout the year and give students a final chance to reconnect with their family before the stress of finals season. At a school that places so much value on community, making time for family should be emphasized, too.
