What’s there to do over the semester break?

It’s been a few weeks since my last day of graduate classes for the fall semester. I still have a few weeks left of break before I begin my next semester. So what have I done over the past couple of weeks? I’ve cleaned and reorganized my room, spent time with family and friends, continued to work part-time and started Christmas shopping. I’m also leaving for Lake Placid for a 2-day getaway this afternoon. Needless to say, I have kept myself busy.

However, it hasn’t always been easy to keep myself busy over the December/January semester break. During my undergraduate career, I recall feeling bored at times during the break. The first couple weeks were always fun—no homework, no classes—pure freedom! However, having no schoolwork eventually got boring, which is crazy! During the school year, I always count down the weeks until the end of the semester. But when I do have several weeks off, then I actually wish I had some work to do. It’s a catch-22.

Here are some things that you can do over break to beat boredom:

• Do the things on your ever-growing ‘to-do’ list. Do you know those things you always want to do but never get the chance to do? Well, do them! Paint your bedroom walls a new color. Reconnect with your childhood best friend. Volunteer at a pet shelter. Use your break to do the things you never have the time to do!
• Get yourself organized and motivated for the next semester. Take advantage of this time off to prepare yourself for next semester. Visit the campus bookstore to see what books are required for your classes. Shop for any supplies you need (notebooks, pens, etc.). Don’t wait until the first week of the semester to rush around getting everything you need.
• Spend time with family and friends from home. For students who live far away from campus, use this time to reconnect with your family and hometown friends. College students usually do not have much free time during the semester, so make sure you spend time with your family and friends over the next couple of weeks!
• Volunteer your time on a Community Service trip. Saint Rose offers students opportunities to volunteer their time to help those less fortunate over semester breaks. For example, a group of students are traveling to Washington DC in January to volunteer with S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat). Click here to read more about the service trips.

What are you doing over the semester break? Let me know in the comments below!