Issue date: 3/16/10 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Kory Peal [Click to enlarge]

It's tough being a college student.

All of those late nights of studying charged up with energy drinks, working with other students who may not have an interest in helping you when it comes to group projects and dreaded papers add to the mounting pile of work.

Going to college is just one big stress ball.

Well, thank God for breaks, especially spring break. Spring break is the one and only break we get during the second semester, and for most of us, it's a much-needed break. This weeklong period is a time for us to kick back, relax and enjoy the company of those around us. Some of us may have gone out of town or stayed home to work, but either way it's all good because none of it has anything to do with academics.

But you know what one of my biggest pet peeves is when professors give out homework, projects and papers during our time to freely put our schooling on the backburner. Whenever a professor gives us more than usual to work on during this time, spring break never actually becomes a "break" because the eerie thought of sitting down for something unrelated to having fun looms in the background of our minds. To put it simply, it's unfair.

Why do professors give out more homework than usual during breaks, and especially after giving midterms? Do they think we enjoy being told what to do when we know we don't have to? Well, whatever the case may be, for some it can be considered a waste of time and an inconvenience. It's annoying enough that our weekends, which can be used for relaxation, are filled with homework and studying much less our one and only spring break. Professors have no idea what we and our families and friends have planned and if we'll even have time to complete it. I don't know about you, but when I get a break, I purposely leave every bit of planner, schoolbook, notebook and syllabus in my desk drawer back in Cougar Village so I won't over-stress myself by thinking about something that really shouldn't be an issue. 

I do realize that as students we have an obligation to huge workloads and time-management, but this is not a 24-hour job. I'm sure professors have their fair share of work they not only need to get done, but to plan as well.

Surely they've got to understand everyone needs a break. A solution would be to treat spring break the way it needs to be, with respect and relaxation. To put it simply, professors should give students a break during spring break.

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