The Necessity of Spring Break: How Students Spent Their Time Off

Watauga students Will Bradbury, Haines Heistand, and Sam Rex [pictured left to right] go on a multi-day hiking trip over spring break. Photo Creds: Haines Heistand

Carrie Bradbury, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn

With the start of April, students shift focus from grades and notetaking in class to the excitement of spring break. The ideal break, full of hiking, vacation, and no homework, is on the minds of every student and teacher as the mountain weather begins to warm and fresh buds start to bloom. Spring break is an important and needed time for all students to get time to relax before exams kick off in May. 

The spring semester is a stressful time for students and teachers alike. With the pressure of exams, homework, and spring sports, many students get burned out and exhausted from the routine of school. In these times, it is hard to stay connected with family and long-distance friends. Spring break offers the perfect opportunity for high school students to spend their spring break traveling to their grandparents, cousins', and other relatives' houses.  Fourteen out of the ninety-four students surveyed said that they were going to visit family over break.

Multiple high school students have older siblings in college who live outside Watauga County. However, the pressures of an academic and social life for high school and college students can make it hard to stay connected to siblings. Having a week-long break allows high school students to meet up with their siblings at college. Three students planned to meet up with their college siblings over break, either at home or at the college

Most upperclassmen are thinking about what colleges they wish to attend, and making time to go on tours is essential in solidifying those choices. Having this time off is the ideal opportunity for upperclassmen to tour colleges that they are interested in visiting. The use of spring break to tour colleges is a necessity for many students at the high school. 

Traveling to see family is not the only reason for students to leave the country during break. Going to the beach is a common activity amongst many families. Of the surveyed students, 15% of people were going to the beach over break. The most commonly visited beaches by Watauga High School students were the Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Oak Island, and Emerald Island. With these beaches being far from Boone, most students were gone for the whole week. 

Going to amusement parks was also a common activity among students. Dollywood and Disney World were reportedly visited by two students from the high school. Going to an amusement park is an easy way for people to get outside and hang out with friends and family. 

Traveling out of state was not on the agenda for all students at the high school. With spring break scheduled in the midst of spring sports and prior to AP exams, many students had prior commitments permitting them to stay in Boone. 30% of students surveyed said that they planned to study for exams while on break. While this doesn’t seem like an ideal break, it was a necessity for students to feel prepared. 

For varsity athletes involved with either track, soccer, softball, or lacrosse, it can be hard to go on a long trip or stop training during break, so staying home may be necessary. A portion of athletes not involved in spring sports chose to stay home to try out for sports that aren’t connected to high school. These students report participating in swimming, horseback riding, pickleball, and others.

Getting outside was important to most students over break. Whether it be hiking, camping, or going on a picnic, spending time in the sun with friends and family was important to Watauga High School students.

No matter what the adventure for Watauga students, most all can agree that spring break is a needed break from the second semester by relieving stress from school work and exams.