With Fall Break just around the corner, my mind is ready to check out and get home for a week of sleeping and eating Mom’s home cooked meals. (Mom, please start preparing now.) I’m one of those annoying “I’m from Chicago” people, when in reality I live in the suburbs like every other “Chicagoan,” but lucky to live close enough that I can go home for fall break. I know catching up on sleep is everybody’s top priority, but fall break is a great time to do something productive. Whether you’re going home or staying under the dome, here are some great ideas on how to spend your fall break!
1. Get ahead. I know, I know, schoolwork is the absolute last thing you want to think about over break, but believe it or not some people just love math and science so much that they want to take it home with them over break. If you’re in a great relationship with your studies and want to take them home to meet the family, you will only be bettering that relationship. When you return to campus you will love yourself so much for getting ahead. You will laugh at your friends, nicely of course, who are struggling Sunday night to finish everything that they should have done over break. But make sure you don’t let schoolwork consume your time off, remember this is a break, let yourself do at least some relaxing.
2. Work. After being at school for a few months now, it is easy to see how fast a college kid can go broke. This week off is a great opportunity to make some extra cash. It will probably be tough to find a job for just one week, but babysitting is always a great option. Let some families know that you will be home for the week if they need any help. But if reading bed time stories and playing hide and seek aren’t your idea of a perfect night, do not fret. Have you figured out what you want to do with that major of yours yet? If so, this is a great time to meet with some potential employers. Send some emails out before break to try and meet with them, you might even get the opportunity to shadow someone in your field and really get to experience the work world.
3. Travel. Have you been dying to experience the fratty world of a state school? Visit your best friend? Soak up a few rays? Well look at that, you’ve got a whole week to dedicate to that! You don’t have to go far to get away, even if you’re staying on campus. Take the train into Chicago for what is bound to be a great weekend (I’ll admit I’m biased), or go home with a friend who lives close and see their hometown. Whether its high school friends in Ohio or just you and the beach in Florida, fall break is a great opportunity to get away for a little bit.
4. Absolutely nothing. A personal favorite option, don’t make yourself do anything. You have been through a grueling few months of tests and quizzes and non air-conditioned dorm rooms, you deserve a relaxing, air-conditioned break. If you choose this option, you need one thing and one thing only: Netflix. Tell your parents I am giving you permission to sleep until noon, and then proceed to the couch to spend time with all of your new friends from One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl. Top off the day with your favorite meal made by mom, and sounds to me like you just had yourself a great day.
Therese Burke is a Saint Mary’s College contributor to Her Campus Notre Dame.