Some college students use winter break as a time to recuperate from all the academic chaos that occurs during the semester. From homework and assignments almost every week to projects and exams every month, winter break gives students a break from it all. Yet, there is always one question that is posed when the fall semester ends: what do students do now?
Some students use the month away from school to reflect on the semester and spend time with family for the holidays. Freshman Joseph Turner, 18, said he spent winter break at home with family in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“For me, I just wanted to go home and unwind with my cousins and brother,” Turner said. “Christmas and New Years were around the corner, so I just wanted to chill with my family at home and take a break from even thinking about school.”
For other students, simply getting away from school and going home was enough for them. Sophomore Chandler Watkins said he just wanted to be at home for a break to recover from what he described as a hectic and rough semester.
“For me, fall semester was rough in terms of grades and time management,” Watkins said. “I just wanted to be at home for the month.”
For other students, winter break meant more time for adventures. With the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, several students went to Texas to support the UofM’s football team in their big game against Penn State. Sophomore Danny Johnson, 20, said he spent a part of his break in Dallas before going to Nashville to watch the football and hockey games.
“For me, traveling is the best way to recover from the fall semester,” Johnson said. “I got to witness history in terms of the Tigers playing in a New Year’s Six bowl, as well as getting to see my favorite football team live.”
Junior Jason Pennell said he also spent a portion of his break in Dallas, though he did not go to the game and instead went to a watch party in the city.
Even winter break could not save some students from work duties. A few students said that they spent a majority of the break working, especially for Christmas. Junior Danielle Carrie said she used a portion of the break, mainly the weeks leading up to Christmas, to work and make money for presents and to pay bills.
“I didn’t have the luxury of being able to go on nice trips or just take a break from everything,” Carrie said. “I still had to go to work about five days out of the week so that I could’ve went Christmas shopping for my family. I don’t see it as a knock, because work helps me get away from the stress that was fall semester."
