Sparks blog: Is Spring Break really a break?

by Mr. Michael Wagner

Within the next few weeks, most schools will pause for what is commonly referred to as Spring Break. Typically scheduled sometime within March and early April, schools build a holiday of one to two weeks in the calendar. It is a time that is well-positioned for students (and faculty) to take a much-needed break from the daily routine of school.

I’m tired

When I ask a student, how are you today? the standard response I receive is, I’m tired. In alignment with that, when I ask, do you have any plans for your break? the typical response I receive is, I can’t wait to sleep.

We all deal with fatigue, and students need downtime. However, students are young! They should be full of life, energy, and excitement. That is why my advice for young adults who are approaching a break from school is to be productive. Take advantage of the break to make it meaningful and purposeful.

Find the balance between work and play

I’m not saying that to take full advantage of a break from that one needs to be constantly busy; I am all for balance. However, there is a happy medium to be sought between time to rest, regroup, and recharge and meaningful accomplishments.

But how?

Well, the resting part is easy—take time to sleep: turn off the alarms, set aside time to nap, or go to bed earlier. It’s quite simple.

As for the meaningful piece, that takes a little more work, but not too much. Here are some suggestions:

Volunteer in your local community.
Read a book about something that interests you.
Visit a local college and take a campus tour.
Take a credentialing or certification class. It could be connected to your planned course study in college, but it doesn’t have to be.
Prioritize creativity—write, draw, paint, create music, choreograph, build, sew, code—the possibilities are endless.
Spend extra time studying challenging subjects to improve your grade.

Lastly, don’t forget; whatever you do over the break make sure you journal. Capturing the details of these experiences is powerful and creates a log that will benefit you tremendously in your college application process.

It can be both

Any break from school, not just Spring Break, can serve the dual purpose of being time to rest and recharge and time that is meaningful and purposeful. It is like anything, it requires focus, organization, planning, and goal setting. Remember why we want to take time off; it is to accomplish things outside of the rigors and time constraints of our normal schedules. Yes, that includes rest, but it can and should be so much more.

Michael Wagner, MAED is a founder and the Knowledge Pilot for Launch Education. Mr. Mike has assisted hundreds of students around the world on their college pathways.