Hamilton falls for Fall Break:
A short but sweet opportunity to relax
by Rachel Lieb '13 and Keith MacArtney '13
OPINION EDITORS
Four short days in the middle of October fly by much too quickly. It wasn’t long after we left that we were back in the Sunday afternoon scramble of getting all of our work done. Even being brief, Fall Break is a much-needed breath in the middle of the marathon-like first semester.
Stressed and over worked, many students need this break to catch up on sleep, eat somewhere other than Commons and McEwen (because our bonus meals and Opus money were squandered long ago) and, most importantly, relax.
While it is true that many professors assign bucketloads of homework over the break, the lack of classes and various other activities in which students participate remove the pressures of school for a short time and allow students to enjoy themselves, even if it is only for a few days. Many professors assign midterms before Fall Break, which adds an extra level of stress to the weeks prior to Fall break. The need for a period of relaxation is made even more essential.
Andrew Seraichick ’13 said, “After all of my midterms right before Fall Break, I really needed a chance to relax and not think about school for a little while.”
Even those students who decide to stay on campus, as a four day break is not enough time to travel all the way home, have many options for fun things to do and see not too far from Hamilton. Some examples include trips to Canada or the beautiful Niagara Falls. The Hamilton Outing Club also offers a variety of trips to the Adirondacks for the weekend.
Some students complain that there should be more three-day weekends, instead of a Fall Break, to “celebrate” Columbus Day, Labor Day and the many other relatively minor holidays that populate our calendars.
However, many students use Fall break as an opportunity to travel to nearby cities, visit friends at other colleges, or just to go home and enjoy a home-cooked meal and sleep in a room without roommates or frat boys blasting techno at all hours of the night. Three-day weekends would probably not allow students these same luxuries.
Many students need Fall break because it helps them to refresh their brains and prepare for upcoming assignments. The first part of Fall semester is an adjusting period for the majority of the school, even for returning students. The break comes at the perfect time so that students do not become overwhelmed.
Paige Cross ’13 said, “I got to go to Montreal with my friends over Fall break. I had a great time, and it was relatively stress free.”
Whether students stay on campus, travel or go home for the four days, the break makes a long semester seem less daunting. Fall break is especially beneficial for first year students who might be overwhelmed by their first semester of college and need a small vacation to reflect.
Fall break’s length is long enough for a necessary recess, but not so long that students lose motivation for the rest of the semester. Students should take advantage of all that Fall Break has to offer and make sure most of the time during it is spent stress-free and relaxed.
