Nearly 6 weeks ago I was walking out of my last final of the year. I remember thinking to myself how great it felt to finally have the burden of the fall semester lifted from my shoulders. I took off work, went home and changed into my best clothes to binge watch the latest docuseries on Netflix. 

It was incredible and was the best day I’ve had in a long time. I continued a streak of unhealthy habits for about two weeks, whereafter, the incredible feeling of freedom started to fade. By the start of the third week, I was so bored I started doing anything to preoccupy my time. At one point I remember looking up Rubix Cube solutions and spending the entire day trying to solve it.

Five weeks in a single break felt like an eternity. I started to miss my friends, my classes and most of all I think I just missed having something to do. I missed the sense of accomplishment that came with the completion of a difficult report. I missed the discipline I had when deadlines needed to be met. I even missed the seemingly endless nights at the library where I was at least learning and productive.

Five weeks of complacency is a difficult transition into a busy spring semester. To keep motivation from dropping to nonexistent levels, I think we need to consider shortening the breaks. I didn’t know how to manage the extra time I suddenly had, so in the end, I just wasted it. Shorter breaks – in my mind – can help keep that good work ethic throughout the school year. A three-week break, for example, would still allow for that much-needed rest while minimizing lethargic habits. I believe this type of schedule would help encourage more productive students and a more positive work ethic.

Plenty of studies help back up a system with shortened breaks. The Economist says, “that long breaks can cause a quarter of the year’s education lost.” In addition, The Atlantic states that, “extended vacations from school help push income-based inequality in academic achievement.” These are big journals doing fancy data gathering to form a bold opinion and that’s great, but these are studies done with data from who-knows-where. Of course, statistics are nice and what not, but I want the opinion of the CMU Maverik. So, how do the students really feel?

I couldn’t be the only one who shares this opinion, so I asked around. Senior sports management major, Tyler Talkington had a similar attitude. Talkington said, “I get caught up in such pointless things over the break, so when I come back, I’m just not as motivated for the spring semester.” Talkington went on to add that he “loved his breaks,” but he just, “felt lazy being out of school for so long.”

Talkington and I aren’t the only ones who would agree that shorter breaks are needed. After talking with a few other students, I started getting a similar story; however, Senior marketing major, Baylea Hice, had a different idea. Hice said “it gives people a chance to make money to come back the next semester, see their family, work and travel. If it was any shorter people may not come back at all because they want a break.” A great point. Many students do need to work, and often that work is what pays for tuition, rent, etc. I work a lot outside of school, so I definitely get it.

There are surely benefits to a shorter break, but those benefits might not reach everyone. 5 weeks is a long time, but maybe by staying engaged with work, activities and other things we can lessen the impact. So, what do you think?