Written by | Austen Ulen |
Spring break: An American phenomenon and an academic tradition that students and faculty alike look forward to every year. It is the intermission in the two-act play we call an academic semester. Including weekends, spring break for AC is March 12 through March 20. The semester already is halfway over, and the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.
In the media, spring break is depicted as a time of debauchery and partying, but in the real world, the concept of spring break varies from person to person. For some, spring break is a time for a vacation from the grind of math homework and sitting through lectures. “I plan on going to Denver, Colorado, with a couple of friends,” said CIS programming major Aidan Garcia. “We’re just going out of town and getting a stress relief from school.”
For others, it’s a time to catch up on work or continue working. While maybe not as fun as hitting the beach or sleeping in every day, this approach can reduce stress simply by allowing time to breathe a little and put everything in life back in order. Some students even sacrifice their vacation time to further progress in their chosen fields. Shelby Silvertooth, an English major, said, “I was about to go to California with a couple of friends, but I couldn’t go because I’m going to the APCA National Conference in Houston with Amarillo College. We get back home with our teams, and after that I’m just working.”
Students aren’t the only ones who will be enjoying their academic leave of absence. AC faculty members also get a chance to reap the benefits of the week-long sabbatical. Even AC’s president, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, is taking time to enjoy the break. “My wife and I got married 20 years ago on spring break, so we’re celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary,” Lowery-Hart said.
“We’re going to a professional tennis tournament called Indian Wells in California. We’re both big tennis buffs, so for the first time in my life, I’m going to go to a professional tennis tournament and watch Serena Williams, Roger Federer and some of the other players I really enjoy watching.” It will fly by fast and be over in the blink of an eye. So whether you’re vacationing out of town, progressing academically or celebrating a wedding anniversary, the most important aspect of spring break is to enjoy it.
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