Each year, humans experience solstices and equinoxes that lead to a form of anxiety in one way or another. As we inch closer to summer, there are many unrealistic expectations that our society depends on in regard to fully participating in the solstice. It is important to discuss why these social precedents are unrealistic. There are many different ways to have a good summer that do not include preconceived ideas of fun. 

During the school year, students look forward to fall break, winter break, spring break and summer break. Simply because students are burnt out, they get excited to experience a moment of silence. With this being said, the moment of silence is completely outweighed by the expectation to be active, have fun and use the down-time to your advantage. It is utterly contradictory, and let’s explain why. 

Fall 

Fall marks the start of a new school year. It is difficult to become motivated, but due to pressure and time, students begin to understand their obligations. Any time there is a break, our minds become familiarized with the idea of being stationary. Due to this, it is difficult to get back on track of working effectively. The idea of a fall break is to sit back, relax and give ourselves a moment to breathe. However, society has implanted into our heads the need to go, go, go. 

Fall is the season of Halloween, Noah Kahan, colored leaves and pumpkin spice. During the season and fall break, there is pressure to go on a mini-vacation, have a significant other to carve pumpkins with or go to a Halloween party with friends. Why cannot we just have a break without the dreaded “FOMO”? 

Winter 

Winter break is the second-longest break during a student’s career in school. It comes with both positive and negative effects. Similar to fall, winter break instills a sense of completion even though the year is not yet over. It offers angst in regard to holidays, lack of family or partner presence, money and home-base confusion. 

For some, seeing others with their families can make them believe that their break is not as useful because they are not doing the same things as everybody else. For individuals and families who do not celebrate the same holidays that a majority of people do, it can feel inferior or unimportant. Due to the fact that our society is inspired by copious amounts of money, feelings of sadness can arise if you cannot purchase or receive what others on social media can. 

Spring 

Spring break is the time for vacations, partying and celebrating the year almost being over ­­— or is it? Once again, we are led to believe that there is a societal standard of how you should spend your break. The year is not over yet. Give yourself a minute to calm down. Sit, read, watch TV or lay around. Going to Ft. Lauderdale is fun, but it is not a break. Your brain is tired. 

The stigma around staying home during spring break is unfair. Why does it matter if somebody stays with their parents, goes with their fraternity to a beach, goes on a cruise or goes camping? There will always be a sense that if you are not going somewhere “cool” or experiencing something new, you are not having a fulfilling break. Not everybody has the resources to do things that Instagram would deem interesting. 

Summer

Summer is the absolute worst with inflating the fear of being left out. We are college students, and our parents normally do not have a lot of money to take us around the country, or world. Some people do have the ability to go places over the summer that are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities; however, others do not have the same luxury. And that is OK!

Hanging out with a few friends, going on a walk, drawing pictures of what you see outside or making a homemade refresher can suffice just as much, if not more, than a production of a vacation. There is no stress. It is luxury, but in a different way. 

My moral of the story is to remember to be gracious for one thing — the effort to make yourself happy. Happiness does not stem from dollar bills, first-class plane rides, marble hotels or infinity pools. Of course, they are awesome. Nevertheless, they temporarily fill voids. Taking care of your mental well-being sews the void shut and makes sure it heals. 

As we experience the last three weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, I want you to remember that you deserve a break. Everybody is different, and everybody has separate versions of relaxation. Whatever you are doing, I hope it keeps you collected and content. Keep in mind that the further you go to accomplish your goals, the more you will be able to do in your future. You do not have to have it all right now. One rotation at a time.

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