With finals coming up, the semester coming to an end, I think it is time to say that I officially need a break, and you do too. But what I mean by a break, I actually mean a break.
Now, let me explain to you what I am talking about. Have I been the best I can be academically? No. But let’s be honest, none of us has. We, as college students, have been functioning off of caffeine, panic and the false hope that next week we will “lock in,” but we don’t. Which brings us to here, where we are crawling towards the finish line after being in the frontlines of academic warzones.
Which is why I need a break, not a “oh, I am going to scroll on TikTok or Instagram reels for an hour then get back to work,” kind of break. Nor a “I am going to take a six-hour power nap and then I will be back at it” kind of break. I mean an actual intentional reset. A time where I don’t have to think about assignments, grades, my schedule for next semester, or whether I remembered to turn in my astronomy quiz I forgot to do on Canvas three days ago.
I need space to breathe again, to have a good rest without feeling guilty about it. To exist in a world where being productive is not the number one priority. Because in reality, we can only run on low energy for so long before we crack, and I think a lot of us are about to that point.
So when finals are done and you successfully make it back to the place you call home, take a real break. Go outside, if you really want to. Sleep in that nice, comfy bed. Eat food that doesn’t come from the caf, the den, or a microwave meal. Remind yourself what it feels like to be a human again because we all deserve it, especially now.
