Spring break can be a helpful rest from school work and classes, or it can present an opportunity to attend special events or service trips. Students at Waynesburg University did a variety of things over that week away from school.

A poll of 65 Waynesburg students showed that spring break was not only a restful week, but one full of activities and adventures. Most students who took the poll stated they stayed at home or worked, but about a fourth of the students went on fun events and service trips.

A few of the service locations included Wilmington, North Carolina, where some members of the track team travelled to; Concord, North Carolina, where students served with Habitat for Humanity to help build low cost homes for those who need them; and Pittsburgh.

Although the service and mission trips were hard work, the students who went said it was restful to be away from classes for a week. One student said she met many quality people in Pittsburgh during break and was glad to have the opportunity to do so.

Five students in the symphonic band, including junior biology chemistry major Harrison Scott, attended the intercollegiate band festival, where they performed music with students from different schools during the weekend.

Many of the students who answered the poll said the break gave them the chance to earn some money by working. Although some said spring break wasn’t as restful as they would have liked, the extra money will contribute to their education and school activities.

Other students said they had fun meeting up with family and friends for parties and dinners during the week.

Sometimes, the activity students look forward to the most on spring break is the simple act of getting away from busy college life and just simply resting. Oftentimes, students get caught up in the amount of activities, homework and other responsibilities they have. They may forget to take a break and take care of themselves. But these things are essential to making sure students can give their all to the responsibilities they have.

Sophomore music ministry major Dorissa Large said spring break gave her a moment to stop and realize how important resting is.

“Taking five minutes to breathe, we need that sometimes. Before break, I was stressing over anything and everything,” Large said. “I heard from many directions to stop and rest. Not until spring break did I actually stop.”

Large said she also attended a retreat over the weekend. At the retreat, she said, the leaders made everyone “give up time” to God by shutting down their phones, taking off their watches and taking down clocks. Large said God helped her learn about rest and giving her time to Him during that weekend. The rest of the week she spent working and resting, she said.

“There was stuff I had to do, yes, but that one week I took off gave me the restart needed to get through the rest of this semester,” Large said. “Rest looks different for everyone, so find what works best for you.”