Thanksgiving Beak is a Teaser

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are now all back on campus working hard to get through the last three weeks of the semester. Fall break was great — it definitely provided some much needed time off — but kind of felt like a teaser. Last year, due to the severity of the pandemic, finals were finished before Thanksgiving and classes did not start again until after the new year. I prefer this longer winter break as students are truly done with the semester and don’t have to transition back to “school mode” after a week off.

I know it seems slightly ridiculous to be picky about when we are granted a break from school. The changes COVID-19 caused last year, though, make it hard not to compare the schedules between this semester and the first semester of last year. Had we not experienced the long winter break, it would be much more difficult to have an opinion on this topic.

Initially, I was unsure how I would feel about Thanksgiving break. I knew I was ready for some time off from classes, but did not know how the transition back would feel. It was not until I was spending time with loved ones and spending full days absent of school-related thoughts that I concluded I am not a fan of the shorter break.

One of the most troublesome annoyances I noticed was that, at times, it was more difficult to be present in the break. Thoughts of looming deadlines and exams popped up out of nowhere and took away from whatever was going on during the relaxing time with family and exciting time with friends. Last year, when the holiday season rolled around, finals were completed and it was much easier to completely relax into the time off.

Having one long break seems to just make more sense. The “normal” schedule requires more travel back and forth, and may even prevent certain journeys that feel like too much for the week off. So much movement can be a financial and environmental toll and just feels more exhausting. If Thanksgiving break could talk, it would be saying “Here is some time off and a break from all your hard work, but do not forget about all the things you still have to do before Christmas. Really, you will be back on campus before you know it.”

I could see someone arguing that Thanksgiving break provides students with time to prepare for the grueling finals week. Without this break, it is just back to back classes, assignments and exams until finals are finished. I would much rather just stay in the “school zone” and power through the semester than have to transition back to the semester’s routine from time away.

If President Cruzado decided to change the fall semester schedule to include one long winter break, I would not be disappointed. Transitions, even those of a smaller scale, can be difficult. Thanksgiving break feels like a teaser to students. Exiting and re-entering the academic mindset is challenging, especially during the holiday season.