The Alternative Spring Break
Hi again!
Spring Break is just a few days away, and by the time you're reading this, I am probably making the journey all the way to Nepal. This year for Spring Break, my roommate and I are traveling to Kathmandu to volunteer in an orthopedic hospital. I'm so excited, but I am also very nervous.
Break A Difference coordinates local alternative spring break trips.
In the past, I've done more typical spring break trips. My first year I took a cruise and last year we traveled to D.C. and Chincoteague. This year I felt compelled to partake in something more service-oriented, which led me to the concept of the alternative spring break. The idea is to spend spring break giving back rather than indulging. Often time, in the midst of volunteering, there are also opportunities to travel and have fun, too.
I am volunteering through the organization A Broader View this year.
Alternative spring break trips exist in many forms. There are some very inexpensive trips that take place locally in the U.S. There are also international trips both close to home and far away: from Mexico to India to Nigeria. Whatever the location, a spring break spent volunteering is not only a fun experience but also a fantastic addition to a resume or applications to jobs, graduate schools and more.
Have you considered an alternative spring break?
Best!
Making the Holiday Break Productive
It's break time! At the university level, this break is usually four weeks. In high school, it may only be 2-3 weeks long. And while it's a great time to spend with family and rest/relax in preparation for the spring semester, it's also a great time to be productive. Below are some things that I'm doing to stay productive over break. Hopefully some might be applicable to you, too.
- Taking an Online Class
- Over break, I'm taking an intersession class so that I can finish my general studies credits at William Woods. It's a computer class, so the work isn't too demanding and it allows me to knock out three credits really quickly.
- Studying for Upcoming Standardized Tests
- This summer, I plan to start applying to medical school, which means I will be taking the MCAT soon. This involves a lot of studying in addition to school, so the holiday break offers a great opportunity to study. Other college students may be preparing for a variety of entrance exams, like the GRE, MCAT, DAT, etc. If you're still in high school, you might be in the midst of studying for the SAT or ACT. Whatever the test, now's the time to get studying.
- Volunteering
- While I'm at William Woods, I am involved in lots of clubs and other volunteer opportunities. While I'm at home, I continue this work with an organization called HandsOn Greater Phoenix. The holidays are filled with volunteer opportunities, and it's the perfect time to give back and gain potential work/resume/school application experience.
- Wrapping up Summer Research
- I spent my summer doing research, and believe it or not I am still working on the manuscript! This holiday break is an excellent time to keep working on my summer work and is now winter work.
- Preparing for Summer
- It seems like a lot to already look ahead to summer, but it's really important. I am spending winter break researching schools I want to apply to, looking into potential jobs, and finalizing the rest of my plans. Spring semester quickly gets busy, so the more of summer that can be situated now, the less work there is for the semester.
I hope your winter break is filled with lots of relaxing mixed with lots of productivity. What are your plans for the break?
Happy Holidays!
‘Tis the Season!
Hi there and hello! The Christmas season is upon us and is definitely in full force here at The Woods! Everyone is super excited for Santa to come visit, so we students are busy doing lots of fun activities to get in the Christmas spirit!
One of the great pluses about being involved in different organizations on campus is attending all the great holiday parties at the end of the year! Phonathon is one of my campus jobs where I get to work with about twenty other fabulous people and call alumni and chat with them about their experience at WWU.
This year, as always, we had a Christmas party at our boss Sharon’s house, complete with yummy spaghetti prepared by her husband, delicious cookie treats and, of course, a White Elephant gift exchange!
The whole point of White Elephant is to bring something you either already have or that is on the silly side. This year’s gifts were especially interesting, with people bringing everything from embroidered toilet paper to a gingerbread house kit.
Who wouldn't want to work with this motley crew? 🙂
The LEAD program is also a great place to find some Christmas joy. One of the groups I’m involved with, Student Alumni Council, sponsored a LEAD event where students could come make Christmas cards for residents in a local nursing home. We collected over 100 cards and even made it on our school’s news website, The Talon!
Crafting time!
After all the cards had been made, members of Student Alumni Council went to the nursing home and delivered the cards to the residents. It was so much fun to see them smile! And the best part of it all? We sang Christmas carols with them afterwards! How fun is that? 🙂
Can't you just hear those golden pipes?!
The First Impressions Show Choir held their annual Holiday Concert not only for us students, but also for members of the Fulton community. It was very well done and even included performers from a local dance company!
We wish you a Merry Christmas, too!
No matter what else is happening on campus, I know I can always count on my sorority sisters for some Christmas entertainment. Every year we decorate our house and have a Secret Santa party before everyone leaves for break. It’s so much fun to play Santa for each other and see what kinds of gifts everyone receives.
Time for snuggles in the foyer! 🙂
Looks like we were all good girls this year!
Something exciting that happened this year was a visit from Santa himself! One of my American Sign Language lab tutors, Brad, dressed up as ‘ol Kris Kringle, came over to our house during one of our chapter events and took silly pictures with everyone. It was so much fun to pretend to be a kid again! 🙂
Much love from Santa and my sissies!
Now that the semester is winding down, I’m definitely excited to go home and spend the rest of the holiday season with my family, but I can’t say I won’t miss my crazy peeps here at The Woods! No matter if I’m at a Christmas party, a holiday-inspired LEAD event or just hanging at the house with my sorority sisters, I know I’ll never be bored!
Finals are coming up very quickly, so I’d better get to studying for all my tests! Eek! (Wish me luck!) I hope your final weeks of classes aren’t too crazy and you rock your finals! You can do it, I know it!
As always, smiles and sunshine! 🙂
Katherine
Undergraduate Admissions
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