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Parent Conversations:
Encouraging
Alternative Spring Break Ideas
For college students bogged
down by mid-terms and winter's lingering chill, Spring Break is a dream
soon-to-come-true. For parents, the thought of Spring Break as expensive,
all-inclusive trips, and week-long parties is a nightmare. But just because
certain movies and shows present Spring Break as an excuse for debauchery,
parents can rest assured that most students' breaks don't fit the
stereotype.
Whether your student needs a mental break from the challenges of the
semester or is looking for adventure and an epic Spring Break experience,
you can provide suggestions to help him/her make the most of the break—and
to put your mind at ease so you know the plans and the participants.
Consider discussing the following inexpensive Spring Break
ideas with your student:
Camping
For many students, Spring Break is about getting away from school and
hanging out with friends. What better way to do both than to head out to
the wilderness to spend a few days hiking, spending time unplugged from the
computer, swapping stories around the bonfire, and saving money on
restaurants and lodging.
Giving Back
Students who realize that Spring Break is a privilege may want to spend
their time in a meaningful way. Many people—in this country and
others—can't afford higher education. On top of that, a week off in the
spring won't come along every year once the post-college real world hits.
Recognizing the special position that puts them in, some students spend
their week volunteering with inner-city non-profits or other philanthropic
organizations. Many cities have poverty simulations to give people hands-on
experience to illustrate what poverty looks like in their community, which
makes a lasting impression and helps to form a realistic worldview.
Road Trip
Rather than spending a fortune on airfare to travel to a destination
overrun by college students, suggest that your student plan a meaningful
trip with friends. Do they share a common passion, like vinyl records, BBQ,
swing dancing, or sculptures (to name a few)? Tailoring a road trip to hit
special landmarks, restaurants, and local sites across several states will
provide them with an experience they'll recount to their grandchildren.
Shadow Week
Is your upperclassman student still unsure of what to do after graduation?
Spring Break is the perfect time to step away from college and into the
real world. Encourage him/her to contact a family member or friend in his
potential field—or to get contacts from a professor—and set up a few days
during the break to shadow the professional at work.
Depending on the field and the circumstance, your student might get a week
to learn the ins and outs of the job, or just a meeting with someone for an
hour to hear about the career. Either way, glancing into the real-world
career will help put majors, degrees, and graduation into perspective.
Family Time
If your student is itching to get away on vacation but has no money to do
it, you may have the perfect opportunity for a family vacation on your
hands. As students gain independence and enjoy the freedom of living away
from home, they also start to appreciate their family and miss spending
quality time together. If your student isn't there yet, don't worry. But
paying for your student to join the family on a Spring Break trip could be
a win-win situation for everyone. Enjoy the chances you have to spend time
together now; in just a few years, your student's entry-level job won't
afford much vacation.
Article reprinted with
permission of University Parent Media.
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