As Le Moyne College’s spring break closed in, manystudents packed up to leave campus in preparation for a week off of classes. This allowed students to take time to do something other than their average day–to–day life that they’ve known since the start of the semester.
What does this break mean to students and others in the Le Moyne community?
A Le Moyne journalism class decided to go out and discover some of those feelings about break, after a long, hard winter.
*
Le Moyne student Garet Martini was among the many people interviewed by members of the class. He is a sophomore majoring in business management and leadership and he has been counting down the days until spring break.
“I think students deserve a break because we work very hard in school,” Martini shares. He is looking forward to spending his time away from school by catching up on sleep, working, hanging out with friends, and exploring different towns in New York.
For most people on this campus, spring break is something to look forward to. It means no classes, no assignments, no stress, but also no rehearsal.
For Alisha Espinosa, director of Le Moyne College’s upcoming play, “American Hero,” spring break is “going to be a challenge.” Although it is a much-needed break, the timing does make things a little difficult, according to Espinosa.
The week directly following the break is show week, meaning everyone working on the play will have just five days to ensure everything is ready. Despite this, Espinosa is still confident that even with this reprieve in the schedule, the show will still be running smoothly and will be ready for people to see it on the Friday after everyone returns.
*
Alzena Tseng is an exchange student from Taiwan, currently a junior majoring in psychology.
She is spending one semester at Le Moyne. This is her first long break here, and she sees it as a great opportunity for local students to go home and spend time with their families and relatives. For international students or friends, it’s a chance to leave Syracuse and explore other cities.
She mentioned that in Taiwan, there aren’t as many holidays as in the U.S., let alone a whole week off, which means fewer opportunities to take a breather. For spring break, she has planned a trip to Miami and Orlando Disney. However, she hasn’t scheduled any specific activities that she simply wants to take things slow, relax, and fully enjoy her vacation.
*
Bela Holguin is a sophomore biology student attending Le Moyne, studying biology with a minor in chemistry. She is more than excited for the upcoming spring break, giving her some much-needed relaxation time away from her busy studies and time to meet back up with family and friends within her hometown, located in New Jersey.
Holguin also added that she has been overloaded with work recently, and finds the consistent workload sometimes exhausting – so she is extremely thankful for a break, especially during this time frame as it also gives her time to study for midterms.
–Lucy Webb
*
It’s a bustling time on Le Moyne’s campus right now. Right before spring break, students are preparing for fun trips with friends, or maybe their excitement comes from being able to go home and see their family. No matter what a student may be up to, it seems as though most are excited.
When asked about her feelings on spring break, junior Abby Files said it’s a conflicting time, because break is supposed to be relaxing, but we’re in crunch time for the semester, so there’s lots of work to get done. Despite her work, she said she was totally excited about the break.
*
Stefon Greene, head of LCTV and creative media manager, said he has a bunch of work to do over the break when students are not around. And Joe Shidoma, a Le Moyne student, said he is “looking forward to having a little break. Got some time to relax and have time to myself and go shopping, enjoy the amazing weather.”
*
Stephen Moore is excited to return to Westchester for spring break. “I am mostly excited to relax and get a break from school,“ he said. He is also looking forward to spending time with his family and friends. When asked what he would do in his free time, he answered that he would go to the athletic fields with friends or play basketball.
He is not looking forward to coming back to school after enjoying the break. Moore states he has a lot of work from his teachers that he has to do during the break. He wishes teachers would not assign as much work so students can truly enjoy their breaks.
– Sophia Melone
*
Jana Day had this to say about spring break: “Break is so important for students’ mental health. So many students are involved in clubs and activities and the only time they can step away from the chaos of their academic and social lives at school is to have a few days off. So many students, including myself, work while they’re at school, and getting time off is crucial to recharge their batteries.
“For my on-campus job, the expectation is that I work while the school is open, and keeping up with my classes, clubs, and jobs can be so overwhelming. Being a full-time student is no different than being employed, and if the expectation is that employees need time off, students should be given the same. I currently have three majors and balancing my academic and personal life can be a challenge. Breaks are necessary for ‘cura personalis.’”
*
“Spring break is a nice break from school, and I definitely appreciate it,” said Nicolas Marshall, a junior at Le Moyne College. “I’m probably not the most exciting person to ask, but I enjoy it. I’m going home for a couple of days to spend time with my family, and then I’ll come back here.”
For many students, spring break is a time to relax and recharge before finishing the semester. While some may travel or go on vacations, others, like Nic, prefer to keep things simple. Whether it’s a chance to catch up on rest, visit loved ones, or just take a break from schoolwork, spring break offers a much needed pause in the academic year.
*
Emily Krasniqi, a student at Le Moyne, when asked what this break meant to her stated, “Well, it’s a time where I can catch up on school work and study to prepare for upcoming exams. It will give me time to relax and spend time with family and friends.”
As the weather proceeds to get warmer, spring break is here after a long winter for Syracuse. Krasniqi voices that her plans during break consist of “spending time with friends and studying(and) going shopping with my mom and doing something for my friend’s birthday.”
– Jordan Roy
*
While many students at Le Moyne College are using their spring break to sit back and relax, others are not getting the same luxuries. Redshirt freshman defenseman Dominic Pezzimenti is one of those students on the Le Moyne College men’s lacrosse team.
Pezzimenti’s spring break starts on Friday, when the team will depart Le Moyne and drive to Virginia. The first game for the team is Saturday, against Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA.
After their noon game, the players will then board their bus and commute three hours to Annapolis. They will stay there until March 18 and their start against Navy.
The rest of their week will be preparation for their home game on March 22 against Cleveland State University.
“No, honestly I don’t mind it,” Pezzimenti said of that busy schedule. “We are still getting a break from our classes and other on-campus responsibilities, so in a way it’s still a break.
“Honestly, I’m kind of excited; spending the week with my teammates and eating good food sounds pretty good to me,” said Pezzimenti.
– Branwyn Lupton
*
For many students, spring break is a time to relax. But for Jonathan Streeter, a graduate student at Le Moyne, it’s a chance to get ahead on his schoolwork. “As a graduate student, spring break is my time to catch up on schoolwork since I work full-time,” Streeter said.
“It’s not really a break,” he said, “but the time where I work the hardest.” While others take time off, Streeter spends his time balancing school and work.
Despite the challenges, Streeter is determined to make time for himself. “I’m going to try and find time to do something I enjoy,” he said. His experience highlights the struggle many graduate students face in balancing their academic commitments with work, often leaving little time for rest.
*
At this time of semester, it’s usually right for Le Moyne students to be anticipating the upcoming spring break. But for Jonathan Marks, part of the class of 2025, the break comes with a caveat.
Jonathan is a student who is always kept busy with his classes, and this semester is no exception.
Despite it being the middle of March, he said that he’s already had professors asking him about finals, a looming reminder that the end of the semester is closer than we may realize.
“I’m overdue for some time away,” he said. So while he certainly has a lot on his plate, Jonathan ultimately feels he’s ready to go home for a much–deserved vacation.
Dr. Ann Ryan, an English professor, summarized the meaning of break week in this way: “I think the world is moving very fast,” she said. “I think students and the staff and the faculty need time to gather their thoughts, eat a muffin, take a nap, and come back ready to do good work.”
Ryan understands the need for breaking the academic tension. “The world has felt frantic since COVID,” she said, “and we all need time to take care of ourselves and maybe time to be silly.”
