Spring Break
Column: Don't let stress get you; take a break
James Stewart/Columnist
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Opinions
Is anyone else done? I don't mean done with your midterms, papers or assorted other class work. I mean done. Checked out. Mentally disengaged.
I know I am. I have been since August. I've been in school a long time. Transferring from an out-of-state institution to Eastern and taking a semester off in between colleges put me back almost a year. The good thing is many of my other friends are in the same boat.
Almost everyone I hang out with has finished their four years and is currently engaged in what we lovingly refer to as our "victory laps."
Part of being in college for four years is this feeling - at least with me and my groups of friends - that you're wasting time. You just want to be done and want to have your several thousand dollar piece of paper and move on to more relevant and practical things.
So, I'm done. You're probably done. Even if you're not done, we all just got back from spring break. Most people are experiencing some level of academic disengagement. So, let's all be done together.
This sounds counterproductive to continued academic success, I know. Hear me out. Early in this semester, a lot of my friends came back from a two-week trip in Africa. They returned to the states three days before the semester started. They had no break, and were mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted.
The common complaint was that they just needed one more day of doing nothing, and then they could all face the semester.
Enter the concept of being done together. We threw a pajama party. We ate junk food, watched bad movies, played board games and just chilled. There were only two rules: 1) You had to wear pajamas and 2) you could not talk or think about school or school work. That was it.
You know what happened? We had a great time. It was one of the best parties any of us had ever thrown, and we all left content. Come Monday, we were able to face our classes with renewed energy.
We didn't have to go to Panama to recharge our batteries. All we had to do was disconnect from campus and campus life.
I encourage everyone who is feeling drained, disconnected, and just generally checked-out to get together with your friends and plan a night of disconnection.
Plan something stupid and childish and throw yourself into it. Am I advocating going out and drinking? Not necessarily. If you choose to, that is fine, so long as you are of age and are responsible.
Am I advocating shirking your responsibilities? Of course not. Just move some stuff around. Watch a dumb movie. Eat junk food, and don't feel guilty. Recharge this weekend, recuperate from spring break and your return, and come back Monday ready to conquer the last leg of the semester. Only four weeks left. You can do this. We can do this. Best of luck. Now get yourself to Family Video.
James Stewart is a junior English major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
I know I am. I have been since August. I've been in school a long time. Transferring from an out-of-state institution to Eastern and taking a semester off in between colleges put me back almost a year. The good thing is many of my other friends are in the same boat.
Almost everyone I hang out with has finished their four years and is currently engaged in what we lovingly refer to as our "victory laps."
Part of being in college for four years is this feeling - at least with me and my groups of friends - that you're wasting time. You just want to be done and want to have your several thousand dollar piece of paper and move on to more relevant and practical things.
So, I'm done. You're probably done. Even if you're not done, we all just got back from spring break. Most people are experiencing some level of academic disengagement. So, let's all be done together.
This sounds counterproductive to continued academic success, I know. Hear me out. Early in this semester, a lot of my friends came back from a two-week trip in Africa. They returned to the states three days before the semester started. They had no break, and were mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted.
The common complaint was that they just needed one more day of doing nothing, and then they could all face the semester.
Enter the concept of being done together. We threw a pajama party. We ate junk food, watched bad movies, played board games and just chilled. There were only two rules: 1) You had to wear pajamas and 2) you could not talk or think about school or school work. That was it.
You know what happened? We had a great time. It was one of the best parties any of us had ever thrown, and we all left content. Come Monday, we were able to face our classes with renewed energy.
We didn't have to go to Panama to recharge our batteries. All we had to do was disconnect from campus and campus life.
I encourage everyone who is feeling drained, disconnected, and just generally checked-out to get together with your friends and plan a night of disconnection.
Plan something stupid and childish and throw yourself into it. Am I advocating going out and drinking? Not necessarily. If you choose to, that is fine, so long as you are of age and are responsible.
Am I advocating shirking your responsibilities? Of course not. Just move some stuff around. Watch a dumb movie. Eat junk food, and don't feel guilty. Recharge this weekend, recuperate from spring break and your return, and come back Monday ready to conquer the last leg of the semester. Only four weeks left. You can do this. We can do this. Best of luck. Now get yourself to Family Video.
James Stewart is a junior English major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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