As I finished my first spring break in college, I realized I didn’t have the typical college spring break experience. When most college students think of spring break, they think of going down to Panama City Beach, where there are many opportunities for alcohol, sex and sunlight. Even students who aren’t party-goers plan on using the week to unwind by the pool, and start their tans for summer. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to have fun, after a stressful two weeks of midterms, gunning for the ocean at one hundred miles per hour might not be the most relaxing thing to do on spring break.
For my spring break, I spent the first half of the week to just spend time with my family and see some friends from high school. I know this might sound very dull to most of my peers, this gave me an excuse to look back and think about the time before college, when I didn’t have papers due every week or tests every day of the week. Looking back on these times with easy schoolwork and family surrounding me was very relaxing. In comparison to the fast-paced college atmosphere, it seemed like I was able to just stroll through life for a few days.
The last half of the week was spent at a Christian Men’s retreat in Black Mountain, North Carolina. A group of fifty men, from freshmen in college to men about to retire, came together for fellowship over delicious food, spending time in nature, and learning from the Gospel. It was an incredible experience, because I got to meet awesome guys, finish a very difficult hike, and eat over ten pounds of pork, beef, and chicken. But the most incredible part of the trip was reflecting over the past semester and a half at college. While I am so focused on one thing at a time at school, it was nice to take a step away from my campus, and look at the big picture of what I have accomplished.
I think the reason why I enjoyed my “boring” spring break so much was because I was able to reflect on my past, with a renewed eyesight. While going to the beach, or Disney World is a lot of fun, it acts as a distraction from your stress at school. But the retreat allowed me to look at the different causes of my stress, and make plans on how to conquer it, instead of just offering a distraction from what was stressful. Even if you don’t care about religion or faith, taking a step back in a quiet place can offer this same opportunity to reflect on any problems you are facing and how you can solve them. And while that might not seem to be as adventurous as a beach trip with ten-thousand other spring breakers, I can say it is definitely worth your time.
