Just one more week of classes left and it will officially be time for spring break 2023.

Time flies, doesn’t it? It hardly feels real to be halfway done with this semester, and three quarters of the way done with this academic year. Although everyone’s experience is different, the general consensus seems to be that this year has been incredibly fast paced and hectic.

For seniors, this is the beginning of the end. They’ll have their last midterms, last spring break, and once they return to campus, the clock really starts ticking to commencement. Throughout this year, The Beacon has talked a lot about the senior experience, which is probably due to the fact that our entire E-Board is made up of seniors, and many of our general staff members are seniors as well. We’ve talked about recovering from Senioritis, the 100 days to commencement event, and the experience of moving off-campus for your final year, among others. Now, it’s starting to feel a lot more real as the first half of their final semester draws to a close.

Spring break is an exciting time for all students, though, not just seniors. For the freshmen, this is their first spring break, which may mean their first time returning home for the semester, or their first big vacation with their new college friends. For others, it may be the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of workload, as many classes are beginning to introduce midterm projects that need to be done. Spring break can be a breath of fresh air for an overworked college student.

Lots of people assume that spring break is a time for college students to travel somewhere warm and party for the whole week. For some, this is 100% accurate. It can be a great time to unwind and have some fun before returning back to school. Especially with the winter weather we’ve been having the past few weeks, some time in the sun can be exactly what you need.

For others, however, spring break isn’t a time for traveling, but instead a time of recharging. I feel like this year more than ever, many people I’ve talked to have been opting out of the typical crazy spring break vacation, and instead deciding to stay home and relax.

Many reports have shown that travel is more expensive than ever as the majority of places have completely eased up any remaining COVID restrictions, with one article from CNBC claiming that domestic airfare prices have increased by 20% in the last year, and that travel demands are back to what they were pre-pandemic. If you fit into the stereotype of the broke college student, as many of us do, traveling probably isn’t realistic or affordable right now.

However, this isn’t necessarily a negative thing, since a staycation is a great way to save money while also enjoying your time off. There is often a lot of pressure for college students to have the classic spring break experience, but it is important to put your well-being (and your wallet) first sometimes. There are lots of ways to have a memorable spring break without breaking the bank.

So, to all of you, whether your spring break plan is to go party in Cancun or binge watching the new season of Outer Banks on the couch, you are equally valid. This is your time to do what makes you happy and what will set you up for success for the rest of the semester. We’re almost halfway done, let’s finish the last half of this semester strong!