What are your plans for spring break? Are you going home? On vacation? Both? I asked 25 SUNY (State University of New York) Cortland students what their plans were for spring break. The results and reasons were both similar and different.
The results from the 25 students questioned were that 20.8% said they were going on vacation, 58.3% said they plan to go home and 20.8% said they are going home and on vacation.
Most students said they were planning to go home. What happened to the wild spring break vacations we see on television and in the movies? Why do these students choose to spend their break at home?
Elizabeth McCaffrey a first-year student stated her reason, “Looking forward to having time off at home with my friends and family.”
Abbey Hunt, a Junior shared, “The break is too short to go on vacation. I love being home and just clearing my mind away from school.”
Rachel Melamed, a senior revealed, “My plans for spring break revolves my family, I wanted to see them, and I have some family members birthday celebrations along with seeing my hometown friends”
Haley Ferrara, a junior said, “Well it’s going to be my birthday, so I wanted to go home and be with my family.”
Spring break is the only extended period off SUNY Cortland students have this semester. Overall, it seems like college students miss their family and home friends. Students want to be home for notable events such as birthdays.
Why did students choose to skip going home and go on a vacation instead?
Cassandra Bayles, a sophomore, is going on vacation, “My friend invited me along on their family vacation because it is my birthday week.” Bayles also added “I am excited to go somewhere warm.”
Erika Jarymiszyn, a senior shared “I want to spend as much time with my friends before graduating in May and we never got to do anything because of Covid.”
The appeal of going somewhere warm and sunny is always pleasurable during a New York winter. This is also the first year since COVID that there are little to no regulations for travel, which is overly exciting for college students.
Lastly, why did people choose to go home and on vacation?
Kelsie Bushart, a junior, lives less than an hour away from Cortland. Bushart is going home for a few days and then going on vacation with her family, “I wanted to be with family but also friends which is why I am doing both.
Emily Vayda, a junior, disclosed that she is going home to Long Island for 4 days and spending the rest of spring break in Florida visiting her grandparents. Vayda stated, “My grandma got me plane tickets, since I have to fly there, I only get to visit her over long breaks.”
Vacation and going home seems like the perfect combination. Students get to see family, friends and take a trip. Some students may be getting a vacation while also visiting family.
It appears that all college students questioned are excited for spring break, regardless of what their plans are. The plans they made are the perfect decision for them and it is a bonus to have a break from classes.