As the second week of March rolls around, so does spring break. It can’t get here fast enough for Trojans.
Spring break at USC means that from March 10 to 17, Trojan Instagram feeds are flooded with images of tropical paradises, ski vacations, and reunions back home with high school friends.
However, some students often feel overwhelmed and stressed during this part of the semester.
“I usually have something related to school that I need to do over breaks. Unless it was like winter break when the semester was over and I didn’t have work,” said Uso Atuegbu, a first-year student studying neuroscience.
For many, the anticipation of the impending break is muddled by the anxiety-ridden environment of the midterm season on campus.
“I don’t think there’s been any single break where I haven’t had to do some type of work… I would rather get everything done and then have the week free instead of having lingering assignments that I need to do over the break or when I return,” Atuegbu said.
Spring break helps students get out of a constant routine of classes, jobs and any extracurricular activities. The monotonous cycle of weekly exams and projects leads to drained, burnt-out students.
“It’s honestly just every week, it’s either a quiz or an exam. And I’m just trying to keep up with all my STEM classes… trying to balance it out with all these STEM-related clubs and then other orgs that I’m part of,” said Chad Crisostomo, a freshman majoring in health promotion and disease prevention studies who plans to stay in LA and travel to San Diego during the break.
Some Trojans wish that the break was longer but still appreciate the limited time off.
“I think a week is too short to fully reset and rest but it provides a sort of seminal relaunch,” said Kapil Kanagasabai, a sophomore studying acting. “It’d be nice if it was like two weeks.”
Kalālapa Winter, also a sophomore studying acting, thinks spring break is “what’s needed to reset,” but her spring break will be busy as she models in Hawaii over the short recess.
“I model back home and… I make a lot of money during spring break, which is the only reason I’m able to afford to go back [home],” Winter said.
Other than the staple spring break destinations of Cabo San Lucas and Hawaii, some Trojans are traveling halfway across the world.
Hawa Yusuf, a junior majoring in communications, is traveling to Dubai with her family for the break.
“In the past, honestly, I haven’t done much for spring break,” Yusuf said. “My only grievance with [the timing of spring break] would be like all of the midterms leading up to spring break. So you just can’t really focus on getting ready for spring break.”
For those who do not have a midterm on March 18, spring break will hopefully be a restful, fun and work-free occasion.