March 11, 2015

By Alyssa Kirchen

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”25″ size_format=”px”]Q: I work instead of travel during spring break. People say I’m missing out on the college experience. True? [/typography]

A: It seems every college student plans  an amazing spring break trip every year that they talk about forever. They leave the cold of Wisconsin and come back sun-kissed with great memories.

As much as you wish you could join the rest of your friends during spring break, you know that you have a lot of student debt racked up and bills to pay, so you stay back so you can earn some extra cash.

It is a difficult thing to stay back year after year and never go anywhere for spring break. You feel left out, but you know you’re doing the right thing by picking up extra hours. It’s true that you’re missing out on some of the college experience, but it doesn’t always have to be that way.

I have never traveled anywhere for spring break during college. I can never seem to save up enough money in time when my friends actually want to plan a trip. The extra money I make during spring break helps me a lot, especially toward the end of the school year, so it gives me more of a reason to stay behind.

I have always wanted to go with friends somewhere warm and create great memories. When spring break does come around, I feel like I’m missing out and not taking advantage of spring break.

It doesn’t always have to be all work during spring break if you choose to stay back. Maybe you are not alone, and some of your friends have stayed home too. This is a perfect opportunity to try to make the best out of spring break without spending big bucks.

If you stay home during spring break, try to plan a day trip to your favorite city in Wisconsin or Illinois that has a lot of sight-seeing and great shopping. It might not be the same as going to Florida or Mexico, but it will give you something to look forward to while you stay back.

If you have friends from work, go out at night like you would if you were on vacation. There is no reason why you can’t have a little fun after all the hard work you did during the day. Treat yourself for staying home, but don’t go overboard as your intent of staying home was to save money.

If you still feel like you’re really missing out, plan a spring break trip at least once. Make a plan right after your friends get home from their trip and plan on going somewhere next year.

If you have your mind set a full year in advance, you will be more motivated during the summer and the school year to save money or work more in order to go on vacation. It might stress you out just a little bit, but it will be so worth it in the end.

You will be able to gain the college experience that you felt left out on before. Having that one chance to feel like a college student during spring break will leave you with memories that you will talk about forever.

There is no reason why you should feel left out during spring break. There are ways to have fun during spring break if you choose to stay home and there is no reason why you can’t go somewhere at least once.

Only  having a short amount of time in college, make the best of it and have fun.