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To Thine Own Self Be True: Spring Break

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Quinnipiac chapter.

The Single Girl’s Guide to Surviving Spring Break

Every year as the weather begins to get warmer, thousands of college age kids head south towards sun and sand during the month of March. Whether you are going to Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, Cancun, Punta Cana or the Bahamas, the rules are all the same: Spring Break is a time to cut lose and have fun.

As a single girl, I am looking forward to spending time with my girls, getting a tan, meeting new people and experiencing new things. Some single girls look forward to a week of “girl time” and relaxing in the sun. However, for many single girls, Spring Break can be a time to lose your inhibitions and go out to do something that you would not normally do.  This is why I am here to give you some tips to have a fun, crazy AND safe Spring Break.

TO DO BEFORE BREAK

Pack
Well, this one is obvious. Make a list of everything you need for the week and check it off when you pack it in your suitcase. Don’t over pack and make sure you understand the weight restrictions for luggage if you are flying. Who wants to pay more to check your bags? Your money could be better spent on WAY better things than a heavy suitcase full of stuff that you aren’t going to wear. Remember, you are going away for a week, not two years.

Create a “Spring Break Bucket List”

Get together with your girlfriends and decide what are you as a whole want to accomplish during the trip. Have you ever wanted to learn how to scuba dive, sing in a Karaoke contest or build a killer sandcastle? Spring Break is the time to do it! When creating this bucket list ladies, remember while Spring Break is a great time to get away from it all, some things do follow you home. The bucket list item of “Skinny Dipping” may have seemed like a good idea at the time you were writing the list but when pictures show up on facebook after break… it might not be so funny.

Create a Budget AND STICK TO IT
Lets face it while this is a time to go all out, we are still poor college kids. The spring semester is full of opportunities for fun, do you want to miss out on the fun because you blew all your money on Spring Break?

Go Shopping
Get your bathing suits, sundresses, sunscreen, razors, Chap Stick, shampoo and conditioner (and other things) here on American soil. Places near Spring Break locations jack up their prices because they know that intoxicated college kids will pay the exorbitant prices for the things they really need.  Tip: Anything that might leak in a suitcase, put in a plastic bag so that all your clothes don’t get ruined.

THE NIGHT BEFORE
Make Sure you have everything ready to go. This includes money, passport, and plane or cruise tickets. Also remember that when flying, especially during this busy time of the year, sometimes luggage get lost. Bring things in your carry-on that you can’t live with out.

DURING BREAK

Keep Your Things Safe
Spring Break is infamous for robbery and theft. First off, don’t bring you best jewelry that you would be devastated to part with. For the things you have to have, many hotels and cruise ships have safes. USE THEM!

Be Careful In The Sun
What would be worse than paying a ton of money to get absolutely fried on the first day and having to sit out for the next 2 days? Your skin is not used to sun exposure after a long winter! Use sunscreen and HYDRATE especially when drinking alcohol.

Be Safe
I have to admit while I am writing this one I am cringing because I sound like my mother, but seriously, it is one thing to get separated from your friends during a house party and it’s a COMPLETELY other thing to get separated from them in a foreign country. Another tip is don’t leave the group with someone you don’t really know. I don’t care how cute that Fraternity guy is, a one night stand is not worth what could potentially happen. Remember that people feel that they have little to no accountability during Spring Break, people are crazy and dangerous.

Drinking
Moderation! Be smart, you are in a new place with new people you don’t know and really can’t trust. Stay with your friends and don’t drink to the point where you can’t remember what happened or control what your doing and who you are with.

Have Fun
College is a fleeting thing and goes by way too fast. Enjoy your friends, avoid drama and RELAX! You deserve it!

Wishing you the faith in yourself, the hope for your future and maybe a little bit of love.
 

Sources
http://www.customizedgirl.com/blog/?p=790

Leigh is a senior print journalism major and sociology minor at Quinnipiac University. She enjoys traveling, writing, photography, watching Sex and the City, going out on the town (of Hamden) and laughing with, and at her housemates. In the Summer of 2009, she interned in Los Angeles at Genlux Magazine and Red Light Public Relations. She studied in Barcelona in the Spring of 2010 where she learned the true importance of life from the Catalan people. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and was a recruitment counselor during formal sorority recruitment in February. It has been rumored that due to her consistent honesty, she has no secrets of her own. Leigh loves her university and is having the time of her life as a senior. She has only had a few minor freak-outs about her upcoming graduation to date.