Grand Canyon in the evening. Photo by Tony Hisgett
By Mary Milligan//
For college students, spring break is a week to take off and let off steam, which means something different for each student.
Some students, like juniors Molly Masterson and Emily Zeller decided to spend time with family, while others like junior Anne Lessard chose to use the time to volunteer.
Masterson is visiting her sister in Philadelphia for the first half of spring break, the second half she will be preparing for Easter with her family in western Pennsylvania. Friday is Match Day for her sister who attends Jefferson Medical College, where she will be matched with her residency hospital, which will follow with a celebration with friends and family.
She wanted to be present for the occasion as it is a milestone in her sister’s career, and she wanted to celebrate with her. They also plan on exploring the city, like seeing Love Park, City Hall, and hoping to enjoy walking in nice weather.
Masterson will then take the train to her family home in Indiana, Pennsylvania. “Easter is my holiday, I’m going to make a lamb cake and prepare all of the food for about 16 of my family members. I even have a Pinterest board so I’m ready before I go home,” said Masterson.
Other students explore options that would give them a chance to give back. Hood offers students the ability to volunteer to help others in an alternative spring break. This includes staying in Frederick, going to North Carolina, and this year, some students are going to Haiti.
Anne Lessard, another junior, is choosing to partake in Hood’s alternative spring break, she will be going to Borgne, Haiti.
After a friend talking to her about it for years, Lessard said that this year she felt like she had the time to do so. Lessard felt that going to Haiti would be the best thing for her to do volunteering wise, saying “go big or go home.”
In Haiti, Lessard is hoping that she will be able to help teachers with basic lesson plans and assist with the mobile health clinic. These are just two of the six or seven different service projects Hood students can be involved with.
She has been inspired to volunteer currently and hopes to one day open her own non-profit. Lessard believes that this is a stepping stone to knowing if this is a good future career path for herself.
She then shared a story of Ophelia Dahl, Roald Dahl’s daughter, author of children’s books like Big Friendly Giant, who went to Haiti when she was 18 and later started her own non-profit. Lessard had the chance to meet Dahl, the last time she was home and was able to exchange contact information with her to share her own experience upon returning from her own experience in Haiti.
Lessard found the exchange even more encouraging to go on alternative spring break. This stepping stone for her future was affirmed by meeting someone aspiring to her, pushing in the direction that she would like to go in life.
Some students like Emily Zeller, junior, travel with their families over spring break. Zeller will be taking the week of to go to the Grand Canyon with her dad.
These trips students can find to spend quality time with their parents or other family members that they do not get to see as often with being away for college. Zeller said she is most looking forward to spending time with her dad.
“I can’t wait to hike and see as much as we can while we’re there. Hopefully we can do some shopping too,” said Zeller.
One of the reasons Zeller and her father will be taking the trip is because spring break falls over her 21st birthday and they are using this trip to celebrate. For her birthday she said that they plan on going out to dinner.
Zeller said she was excited to see the Grand Canyon again, and have the chance to explore this time. They plan on hiking, and seeing as much of the Canyon as possible. Since her mom cannot go because of work, they will be back on Easter so they can spend time with her as well.
College students are opting for different spring break destinations rather than the beach or just staying home. Like Zeller said, “We finally have the time for something we’ve always wanted to do together. Spring break is providing the time to do so.”