It's the week after spring break and everyone is coming back, headed back into the (college) real world of assignments, class registration and final exam prep. Most people went down to Panama City, Destin, or Gulf Shores and had a week full of debauchery and crazy experiences. All of those places are fun and can be quite enjoyable, but if you are in graduate school that's probably not where you were.

The goal as a grad student is to get as far away as possible from any undergrads on spring break. We will do just about anything to get anywhere but near those places. No one wants to feel like that person that stayed too long at a party where they don't fit in. By the time graduate school rolls around, as much fun as undergrad was, it is kind of old to party like there is no tomorrow. Not to mention mornings after hard partying are getting harder and harder to recover from.

In grad school, you try to go on an exciting cruise, a ski trip, or just lounge in your bed and watch a whole series on Netflix -- mainly because you are so exhausted from work.

If you are like me, it may also mean that you do not really have a break, and that you are really going to spending all of break doing work. This can include grading papers (if you are a TA, like me), writing papers, or studying for that crucial test you have the week after. You would love to be able to go to Panama City, Destin, or Gulf Shores, but the idea of crowds and being around people who cannot handle themselves does not seem flattering at this point in life.

The life of a grad student during spring break may not sound fun, but it gives you relaxation and time to revel in doing nothing -- which in graduate school is pretty awesome.