When the leaves begin to fall and the trees shift in color, only one conclusion can be made: it is time for fall break.
With freshmen finally adjusting to schedules and seniors wishing May could come sooner, the words “fall” and “break” are the light at the end of the tunnel, as the semester is well underway.
The article, “Give me a break,” written by Kirsten Weir on behalf of the American Psychological Association, discussed the benefits both long and short breaks can have for those who work consistently.
“Breaks can improve our moods, overall well-being and performance capacity.” Charlotte Fritz, an associate professor of psychology at Portland State University, said.
Although the article was referencing people working nine to five jobs, this advice can also apply to college students. With midterms, projects, papers and plenty of homework, student-life is comparable to a job and it is just as important to unwind and escape from reality.
Dot Daus, a sophomore studying exercise physiology, said she feels good at this point in the semester but could definitely use a break.
“I’m taking 19 credit hours and I have a campus job too,” Daus said. “I’m a little tired of the same old repeat every week.”
Daus said she was most looking forward to spending time at home, and planned to watch her sister and brother’s hockey games and tend to her family’s horses.
In addition to Daus, other students view the break as an opportunity to see family and high school friends. Nina Motter, a sophomore studying communication studies, said this semester has been different in comparison to freshman year.
“I went home a lot the first semester of last year, but I haven’t been home at all so far this semester,” Motter said. “I haven’t seen my mom or my dog or my cousins.”
Motter also said she was especially excited because her three roommates are joining her for fall break, and she planned several activities.
“My roommates are not from Ohio … it is too short of a break for them to go home, so we are all just going to go to Columbus,” Motter said. “It’ll be really fun, they have never been there before.”
Despite the excitement leading up to fall break, students may argue it is not long enough and OU should allow more time off. Alex Passero, a freshman studying civil engineering, said three days off is nothing in comparison to what other universities provide. For him, it is just a normal weekend.
“All my weekends can be three days if I wanted to because my Friday classes are optional,” Passero said.
Passero said he utilized the break to escape from the college environment and plans on driving to Toronto, Canada. However, he feels sorry for students who do not have the same opportunity and instead use the bus system to get home.
“If you go on the bus to go home you only get one full day before you have to take the bus back,” Passero said.
Whether going home, traveling out of the country or staying in Athens, students should fill their breaks with hobbies they enjoy in order to keep a healthy mindset. An article on the importance of hobbies by Kettering Global said, “Hobbies are a great way to disconnect from work and break away from the monotony of daily schedules.”
Day-to-day classes can look different for everyone, but all college students should have a fun activity that can also play as a stress reliever. Reagan McHenry, a sophomore studying marketing, said her break was filled with a variety of exciting plans including seeing a movie with friends, watching football with family and going to the pumpkin patch.
“This is the longest I’ve been away from home probably ever,” McHenry said. “I wanted to do all of the things that I could do in my hometown when I had the chance.”
McHenry transferred to OU from a community college and it has taken her time to adjust to the new campus.
Although college can be entertaining and lively, a calm weekend getaway is crucial when trying to stay afloat amid the hectic school year. Motter said the first half of the semester can be overwhelming and she hopes students get the break they deserve and need.
“I think a lot of people put a lot of pressure on themselves, especially when we all first get back to school,” Motter said. “We kind of forget to slow down until we get a little further into the semester … I think people probably need more time to recharge than three days.”
