For college students, few things are more anticipated than breaks. In 2026, a record of 171 million passengers were projected to board planes during March and April. No matter how much fun you have in college, most of us are eager to escape our dorms. Recently, I interviewed a trio of students fresh from their spring break. They told me all about how they used their time to unwind.
Like many students, Nadia Bibulovic (freshman, photography) went home for spring break. Nadia's family lives in Schaumburg, Illinois. Although up to 94% of new students experience homesickness within the first 10 weeks, Nadia hasn’t. She attended a boarding high school, so she’s no stranger to being far from home. However, she was glad to see her family and spend time with her dog, Ginger.
“I mainly spent time with my dog. I would take her on walks, and I had a game night with my grandma and brother,” she said.
Although she got some assignments done, Nadia was able to get one-on-one time with her brother, Aleks. “The best part of my spring break was getting to go on drives with just my brother and I,” said Nadia.
Unlike Nadia, Natasha Masengo (sophomore, architecture) didn’t go home and instead spent Spring Break on campus. She shared, “I miss the warmth of my family and the rather lighter routine I have when I’m home. I feel as though, while I’m here, I have to ‘collect’ experiences, and now that I’m here, even my time at home is spent the same way. There is no time to just be.”
Like many college students, Natasha and Nadia were feeling burned out from all their assignments. Between 60% and 80% of college students experience burnout at some point in their academic life, according to the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
Burnout can negatively impact academic performance and mental health. Therefore, it’s important to take breaks and allow your mind to be refreshed. Natasha had a bowling date, watched a movie with friends, and also went to church with them. She loves going out whenever she can.
“I’m not much of a homebody, so whenever I get a break, I genuinely love to go out to concerts, picnics, beach dates, dinner, or even lunch dates,” she shared.
Valorie Pratley (sophomore, horticulture), who also stayed on campus, had a movie night with friends and spent some time in Chicago. She loved getting off campus and spending time with friends, but resting was the part she loved most.
“I got no studying done during spring break,” said Valorie. “ I legit just took the time to do nothing. I couldn’t even sit down and watch TV for fun. I really mean I did nothing, at least for the first five days of break.”
Natasha also prioritized rest and didn’t do much schoolwork. She began an assignment, but chose to rest and got it done over the weekend, after spring break ended. “I’m glad I was able to get a decent amount of sleep and not worry when my next assignment was due or if I missed a deadline.”
Although Natasha and Valorie stayed on campus, they both ended the break feeling refreshed. They have some fun suggestions for their fellow students who can’t make it home. Natasha recommends movie nights or walks with friends, or visiting nearby cafes.
Valorie suggests trying to stay off campus altogether: “There’s nothing to do here, and the weather wasn’t really nice enough to enjoy being outdoors. It was disappointing. Take the train to Chicago, and if it’s warm enough, go to the beach.”
Nadia recommended going on walks to the barn to see the animals. Spending time in nature is an excellent way to reduce stress and refresh your mind.
In the opinion of my interviewees, Spring Break ended far too soon. Nevertheless, they are feeling rested and are ready to get back to work. We hope that you feel the same, as you try your best to stay on target and finish the semester strong.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.