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If you were granted four weeks of free time, how would you spend it? Every winter, thousands of 18-to 22-year-olds across the country are given the opportunity to live out this fantasy.
After weeks of brain racking classes capped by a week of finals, winter break begins and most college students are rewarded with a worry-free month between semesters or quarters. With over 94 percent of all San Ramon Valley Unified students continuing their education at a two or four-year university, there are a wide range of extracurricular activities in the are to participate in, or avoid, this winter.
Greg Hart, a California High School grad and Boise State sophomore, was careful not to waste his precious time off. After sleeping until 1 p.m. on most days, his days consisted of working at Pavlo’s Pizza, playing golf and visiting his favorite restaurants.
Greg said that work is especially important to him because it helps him stay financially independent from his parents and prepare for the future. When he came home from Boise, he said he couldn’t wait to start making money again.
“Any money you make is less money that your parents have to put towards you,” Greg said.
With the same attitude as Greg, President Obama has spearheaded a campaign called “We Can’t Wait” encourages youth to get summer jobs. The federal government hopes that the campaign will create 180,000 employment opportunities for youth this coming summer.
“America’s young people face record unemployment, and we need to do everything we can to make sure they’ve got the opportunity to earn the skills and a work ethic that come with a job,” Obama said in a written statement.
While Greg was eager to bring home paychecks, Las Positas student Cassandra Stuart, a graduate of Foothill High School in Pleasanton, took a break from her job at Club Sport and her schoolwork.
“I am wasting time but it’s okay because I have time to waste,” Cassandra said.
Jessica Land, a graduate of San Ramon Valley High and freshman at Biola University, spent her break walking her dog, cooking and exercising. Before break she had wanted a seasonal job but when the time came to apply, she didn’t. Jessica wasn’t sure that companies would want to hire a new employee who would only be working four weeks.
Although stores in Stoneridge Mall such as H&M weren’t able to comment, it is safe to assume that there was a surge of applications from college students home for winter break this holiday season.
“My family decided it would be better if we all just hung out as much as possible because we won’t get to spend much time together in the future,” Jessica said.
Spending time with family seems to be a common theme among students. Over her work and school-free break, Cassandra was able to visit Tahoe with family and read the first three books of “The Hunger Games,” which she normally wouldn’t have time for. She said she was thankful that Las Positas’ break was twice as long as what it was in high school.
“I’m more appreciative because (break is) longer and especially after finals,” Cassandra said.
Despite the notion that college students wreak havoc, Danville Police Sgt. Nate McCormack said that he hasn’t noticed any unusual increase in the amount of crime.
Jessica admitted that she participated in shenanigans with her friends – which she defined as playing numerous board games such as Life and Monopoly.
“Spending time with family and friends was numero uno,” Jessica said.
While Jessica spent majority of her time with her mother and sister, and even visited her dad’s work in San Francisco, Greg said he missed not having his parents around.
“After a couple weeks,” Greg said, “little arguments start to happen. It’s inevitable.”
Last weekend he gained a short break from family when he attended his fraternity conference, Delta Sigma Phi, in Indianapolis, Ind. He looked forward to meeting fellow brothers and learning how to be a better leader.
When it comes time for college students to head back to school, Jessica said she’ll be ready to go back.
“My brain is now filled with nothing so when I go back I’m ready to be restocked,” she said.
