Drew students should get more time off during the spring semester in addition to the spring break in March.
The spring semester is a challenging time. Although called the “spring” semester, the majority is spent in the dreary cold of winter. Seasonal depression is amplified with the sun hiding behind gray clouds.
Even without an official diagnosis of seasonal depression, the lack of sun combined with the cold makes one feel tired and unmotivated. Tasks take longer to finish and more breaks are necessary.
This is why students need more breaks during the spring semester. The fall semester consists of three long weekends dispersed throughout the semester. The first break is provided by Labor Day in September. In October, students get fall break, which is two days off. The third break is for Thanksgiving in November.
There is a small break each month during the fall semester. Conversely, in the spring, students only receive one week that splits the semester in half.
This is not to suggest that the spring semester should be shorter. With extra breaks, the semester could bleed an extra week into May, which is exactly when other colleges and universities end their semester.
For example, Fairleigh Dickinson University has their last day of classes on May 4, compared to Drew’s April 30.
This cannot be remedied for this semester; however, students can take precautions now in order to take care of their mental health.
The first step towards a healthy mental being is recognizing when something is wrong. Students should take the time every day to check in with themselves and reflect on their mental health.
The next step is to do something to improve that mental health. Students should take a little bit of time to do something they enjoy, hang out with the people they love or something as simple as sleeping.
Taking a break can help increase productivity, improve concentration and maintain focus when getting back to work, according to BioSpace. A break can provide a fresh mind, which can help students produce new ideas or push through a mental block.
Taking time out to relax can be difficult with a busy schedule and assignments piling up. However, if mental health is interfering with academic performance, students can always reach out to professors to ask for a short extension on assignments. Students should not take advantage of the kindness of professors, so they should ask only when truly necessary.
We live in a fast-paced society that can easily become overwhelming, and that is reflected in the pacing of the spring semester. So, it is important to recognize when there is no brainpower left and a recharge is necessary.