Cheap hotels. Random outings with strangers. Mosh pits. Beers on beers. Your typical location like Panama City Beach. For the most part, your vision of a stereotypical American spring break—especially among high school and college students. Some of it is blown way out of proportion through the likes of movies like "Spring Breakers" (spring braaaake fo'evaaaa) and some of it is uncannily true. Either way—I've never done anything remotely close.

I've stayed at home and read way too many books, but as the years have gone by I've traded in the books for Netflix. If the beach was involved in any given year it was usually something planned with my family, and the same goes for traveling. I've spent time with friends but it's usually been something low-key and utterly relaxed. I've loved every minute of each one—and for good reason.

Free meals.

Let's just get this one out as the first reason. If you're not looking for opportunities for free food are you really doing college right? Going on trips with the family and just being with them in general means they usually take accountability from the food babies you're more than ready to conceive.

Less responsibility.

While planning that crazy spring break with a group of friends that can even expand to a group of strangers is nothing short of exciting and exhilarating, it's all up to you to keep track of it and yourself the whole time. Not to say one should shy away from responsibility, but being in college usually means that we've got enough on our shoulders in terms of responsibility. If having a low-key spring break means that you don't have the risk of losing your cell phone, hotel reservations not working out because you forgot who on earth booked them or something else that could go wrong, then why not?

You get R&R for yourself.

It sounds boring, unsocial and borderline introverted, and you think that until you really get to detox from all the stress of the semester, constantly being around people during the semester and having plans on plans throughout the weeks. I like relaxing vacations—sue me.

You get a chance to work.

People save up all year, maybe even all semester, for their spring break. That in itself is so commendable, but at the same time it's so easy to spend that money. Sometimes you end up spending way more than you planned. Treat yo'self of course, but on the other hand having a spring break where you either went home or stayed near your college might mean that you pick up a few extra shifts and keep on saving.

Everyone has a different idea of a break or vacation. This isn't to judge those who like a great week-long party. However, there are those of us out there who find their happiness somewhere else during a break. We're not closed off to a good party, but at the end of the day that stereotype has never really been our thing. Whatever your spring break looks like—whether it is indeed Panama City, a road trip with friends or a week-long date with your couch—just know there isn't a universally accepted way of spending your spring break.