Spring break shouldn’t mean an automatic plane ticket. It also shouldn’t be deemed boring for being too simple.
Realistically, most students won’t be having the traditional spring break experience full of beaches and alcohol. That doesn’t mean social media won’t be swimming in posts that create heavy cases of FOMO, fear of missing out. College students need to avoid these feelings by staying away from social media and focusing on their own lives.
It’s no secret social media is the root of all evil. So, imagine how it’s going to be during spring break with people posting their lives all over their favorite platforms. The fear of missing out on all the fun will be at an all-time high for those who aren’t traveling to the desired destinations. College students who aren’t making it to the big events need to fight the feelings of being left out.
Many college students are living a double life: the virtual world against the real one. Sometimes their online appearance becomes more of a priority than actual reality is. This spring break, students need to remove themselves from the idea of creating an acceptable image of their free time. They need to focus on themselves and avoid getting caught up in trying to impress or compete with other people through social media.
College students are surrounded by expectations of carrying out a perfect life. Understandably, they struggle in adapting themselves to their reality with this kind of pressure. They need to ignore the fear of standing out and reject the idea of conforming to specific standards.
Society can create unrealistic expectations and illusions that lead to unhealthy habits of self-deprecation. College students are easy targets in these times of fitting in and following the crowd. Some people thrive in the intense atmosphere of the traditional spring break, yet others hate the idea of it. People have different interests and different ways of relaxing.
Attending a concert, for example, can relieve stress, pain and isolation tendencies. College life can be suffocating at times, so it’s encouraged to find outlets for stress and endorphin release. This is a time to fully focus on re-energizing the brain and mental health.
Most students will be staying home to work, so time will be a big barrier to keeping students from fully diving into spring break activities. However, they need to set aside some time in the week to relax and explore. After the break, they’re going straight back to extensive hours of homework and studying for exams, so this is the opportunity to make plans and not waste any time.
San Marcos is a perfect spot for activities and there are plenty of popular cities surrounding it. In Austin, there are cool art galleries and 6th street shenanigans. San Antonio boasts the River Walk and good Mexican food. Or students can just spend the week floating at Sewall Park. Not everyone has time or money to travel across the country, but any simple excursion can create a relaxing time during the awaited holiday.
Spring break is a nine-day release from the stress of school. College students need to view this as a time to take care of themselves. They need to focus on their individual needs and stay away from the dangers of social pressures. Push FOMO aside and have a good spring break!
– Laura Nunez is an advertising sophomore