Some people take a Sunday to reset their life or a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of State College to clear their head, but you might just need a little more time than that.
Penn State does not offer a set fall break like other universities and colleges do which typically last about a week. Instead, Penn State students get a week off for Thanksgiving which is 13 weeks from the first day of classes.
And you can never get a true break from school without the risk of falling behind in some classes. As young adults, the number one priority should be our fragile mental health and if a week at home is what we need, then so be it.
Penn State, Give us a Break
A university that holds itself to a high standard like Penn State would be expected to understand the need for students to have an excused break in the midst of midterms, projects and essays.
Students and alumni have expressed their opinion about Penn State only offering a break around Thanksgiving but the university settles that because of the way the academic curriculum is structured, there is no room for an extended break before the holiday season.
Penn State assures that they try to avoid conflict with teaching plans and other scheduling by not adjusting their fall break period.
Because of this professors should not be shocked when attendance begins to dwindle at the beginning of October. Although there are five home football games held at Beaver Stadium this year, the weekends without a game to attend can get pretty lonely.
It also does not help seeing home friends get together in the comfort of your beloved hometown either. You can be surrounded by hundreds of people at school and still feel the absence of the people who have known you your whole life. A week at home can remind students how far they’ve come.
How Do We Pull It Off?
So the idea of a week off from everything sounds great but pretty unrealistic, right? Well, that doesn’t have to be the case. When scheduling classes next semester keep in mind that you might get burnt out after a month and desperately need a couple of home-cooked meals.
Try to secure early classes on Thursdays and no classes on Fridays so you have the option of an extended weekend without paying the price for losing an attendance point. Especially in the fall when you can go pumpkin picking with your family and decorate the house for Halloween, those are moments that shouldn’t be lost because of college.
It is okay to not be okay. At a school like Penn State people feel so overwhelmingly perfect, there is no shame in feeling indifferent about being stuck there for 13 weeks.
Do you think Penn State should offer an earlier fall break? Let us know on X @VALLEYmag!
