THE LIFE of a college student is not easy. There are too many decisions that students have to make. Pre-Med or Pre-Comm. Intramurals or couch-lounging. The Corner or the dining hall. Study or watch TV. Sleep or nap. Rugby Road or apartment party. And as procrastination is the common thread that connects each and every diverse student, most don't decide on important decisions like these until the last minute. Which leads to the most vital decision many will have to make this weak. What to do for Spring Break.
Sure, there are many students who booked deals months ago, but there are just as many who, when asked what they plan on doing March 11-19, reply, "I dunno." So for those of you not willing or able to spend a grand in Cancun or the Bahamas, here are some last minute spring break ideas that are sure to be better than lying on the couch watching daytime TV.
Be an outdoorsman. Go camping, biking, hiking, backpacking, whatever. It's cold enough that the bears are still hibernating, yet not so hot that the bugs are ravenous. The Appalachian Trail runs from Maine to Georgia, so take a couple of days to get away from it all. You won't have to think about classes, and you can still get a tan without embarrassing yourself in front of thousands of lean and buff beach-goers.
Live Vicariously Through MTV. Join the millions of 13-year-old Backstreet Boys fans as they glue themselves to the screen watching other people have a blast at MTV's various Spring Break locations. It's the closest thing to actually being at an exotic beach with thousands of beautiful, and most likely intoxicated, people, and you get to enjoy live performances from talented artists such as Mandi Moore and N'sync. Just be careful not to get too engrossed in the program, as the realization that you are not at the beach but actually in a dark living room can leave you feeling depressed.
Work. Getting to the point, there's nothing wrong with making some hard-earned cash during spring break. That way you can save up for a tropical vacation next year. Enough said.
Volunteer. It may be too late to sign up for a trip with Habitat for Humanity or Alternative Spring Break, but there are sure to be opportunities for community service close by. Many people might shy away from working without pay during their only break of the semester, but helping others is a great way to take your mind off the hassles of school. You'll be helping others, improving your community, and having a good time as well. And of course it always looks good on your resume.
Catch up on reading. If you're one of those people who are in need of last-minute spring break plans, odds are you tend to procrastinate in many arenas. So take a few days to actually open the textbook and read in the peace and quiet of your own home. It shouldn't - knock on wood - take too long, so there still will be plenty of days left to let loose.
Sleep. You know you need it. You know you wouldn't get it if you went on a trip. You'll be longing for more when you get back to Charlottesville. So make the best out of a week with no activities and feel free to sleep 16 hours a day. You know you've always wanted to.
Improvise. Make due with what coast Virginia has, get some friends together, and go to the not-so-exotic beaches of the mid-Atlantic. You can still have fun with friends. You won't be in school, and still be at a beach. Granted, the water will be freezing and there won't be too many people around, but when you're desperate enough, anything can become fun. Besides, you can always wear wetsuits.
Go skiing. If you're not sick of winter yet, go north a few hours for a week of schussing and ski bunnies. Not all spring break trips have to involve sand and the ocean, and after a week in the snow, the Charlottesville weather will feel like Florida's.
Road Trip. Road trips are the most underrated activities on the face of the Earth. Nothing beats piling your buddies in the car, grabbing your ATM card and a map, and just heading out driving. It doesn't matter where the road takes you. It doesn't matter what you do. It's spontaneous and it's a road trip, and you're bound to have a blast.
For those who are hopeless ... Dump sand in your backyard, invest in a kiddie pool, set up the tiki torches, borrow your dad's Beach Boys albums, and go for it. It's no beach. It's no camping trip. It may be no fun. It may be lame. But it's not school.
(Brandon Almond's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily.)
Read More
SULLIVAN: Ramp up physical accessibility on Grounds
By Scarlett Sullivan | 7 hours agoThe University must take responsibility for the inaccessibility of Grounds and work to promote accessibility for all students despite misguided laws.
EDITORIAL: Scapegoating students will not stop hazing
By Editorial Board | 3 days agoInstead of retroactively responding to extreme hazing allegations, we, and especially the University, must begin asking more probing questions about the role of fraternal organizations on Grounds.
EDITORIAL: Celebrating and reflecting on The Cavalier Daily’s independence
By Editorial Board | April 18, 2024Our independence grants us the ability to ask the hard questions and to say what University representatives cannot.
