By Sayuri Vargas-Hernandez, Staff Writer
Spring Break has always been shown as a fun and exciting week. On social media, students posted pictures of beaches, trips, parties, and adventures.
It looked like everyone was traveling and having the time of their lives, but the truth was different for many students. A lot of people stayed on campus, and their Spring Break looked nothing like the pictures online.
Many students stayed because traveling was too expensive, such as the plane tickets, hotels, and food, which cost a lot of money, and not everyone can afford them. Some students did not have family close by, or home was not a place to which they could easily return.
“Typically, international students like me who do not own a vehicle have to resort to their creativity to make fun plans because there’s nobody on campus. Creating events for students that stay here, maybe having vans with designated drivers to take people to the mall or the grove to eat,” said Resident Assistant Felix Andres Barrios Cañas, a sophomore student majoring in accounting with a finance minor.
Others felt more comfortable staying on campus. Even though staying was common, it was not talked about much.
Students who stayed on campus had different experiences. Some enjoyed the quiet week. With no classes and fewer people around, they finally had time to rest. They slept more, cleaned their rooms, organized their work, or finished assignments. For students who were always busy, the calm environment felt peaceful and helpful.
However, other students felt lonely. When friends left, dining hall hours changed, and group chats became silent, the campus felt empty. Seeing classmates post pictures from beaches or big cities made some students feel left out. It was not only the fear of missing out (FOMO), but also the feeling that they were missing a part of the “college experience” that everyone talked about. Even during break, the pressure to have fun and make memories was still there.
Many students who stayed found their own way to enjoy the week, for example, some explored local places they had never had time to visit before.
Others worked extra hours at their jobs, joined small campus activities, or spent time with the few students who also stayed. These small moments created a different kind of community, quiet, simple, but meaningful.
Even though Spring Break did not look the same for everyone, that was okay. Whether someone traveled far away or stayed in the same dorm room they lived in all year, the week still had value.
