By: Alaina Valdespino, Staff Writer
Spring break, much like any other holiday, serves different people in different ways. While many choose to use spring break as a time to travel, go to the beach, and party; others use it to relax and forget about the stresses of college classes and their course loads. This class-free time is a god send to students who are tired and losing motivation because it gives them time to recharge in order to power through the semester with strong grades and a good mentality. In general, spring break serves as a strong benefit to the mental health of students nationwide.
Having said that, from an administrative standpoint, canceling spring break was one of the single and most effective ways of regulating travel and mitigating the spread of COVID on campus. But, in doing so, many students were left without a break from classes, without an extra week to relax and unwind, and without that extra time to get caught up on class work, which for many students, is vital in maintaining a strong GPA. Between navigating online classes and the uncertainty of what lies ahead, students are already faced with more pressure than ever before and in turn, are highly deserving of a break.
Due to the concerns surrounding COVID and the overall pandemic, students have been missing out on social experiences that are supposed to make up some of the best memories of their lives. Students have been left to learn online, isolated from their social lives until it is safe to resume them. And sure, that’s what's best for their health physically. Avoiding COVID so not as to get COVID, but when it comes to mental health, this isolation can be crippling. These feelings are even more prominent now that Regis students have powered through nearly three fourths of their semester without the luxury of spring break.
Because of this, an overall lack of motivation has been plaguing students of all years on college campuses nationwide due to the longevity of this pandemic and the lack of breaks students are faced with because of it. And while canceling spring break may have been beneficial in preventing COVID spread here on Regis’ campus, it had another lasting impact that is affecting students mentally, that being burn out and zoom fatigue.
When asked to comment about this semester and about how not having spring break has impacted their studies and overall motivation levels, Regis students had a lot to say. One 3rd year Regis student stated, “I know I’m beyond burnt out. I was burnt out last fall so I’m trudging through this one. Everyday feels the same.”
Another Regis student, a second year who studies neuroscience, said that the lack of spring break “is seriously contributing to burn out and lack of motivation.”
Overall, the consensus came to be that students feel exhausted. Zoom fatigue is alive and well, and many students mentioned that the quick transition from midterms to new content without a week-long spring break is in part, contributing to the some worst burn out symptoms of their lives. And while COVID may not be a raging issue on campus, thanks to the many guidelines enforced by Regis’ administration, the mental health impacts that the lack of spring break and the overall pandemic have caused are prominent; and most students will admit that this entire situation isn’t ideal. However, as Regis students we strive to look for the good in every situation. With the semester near a close, and an end in sight to this pandemic, students have a long and well-deserved summer break to look forward to.