Most students look forward to breaks during the school year. They get a little bit of a break from going to classes, even though some students still might have a little bit of school work they have to do.
Some students go home, some students travel other places and other students, mostly athletes who are in season, stay on campus.
On short four-day breaks, like Easter break, students who live far away cannot make it home very easily.
For sophomore Aubrey Bartel, it’s easier to go on adventures because most of the places are closer than her home in Newton, Kan.
Sophie Hobbs, Aubrey Bartel and Claire Clay in Central Park. Photo provided by Claire Clay.
“Kansas is too far away for me to go home on short breaks,” said Bartel. “I love having friends that take me in or travel with me during those times to places that we’re all curious about or interested in.”
Over Easter break, Bartel and three other Bluffton students travelled to New York. While in New York City, the group visited places like Central Park, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the 9/11 museum and Ground Zero. For two of the four, this trip was their first experience of Manhattan and New York state in general.
“We like to go on trips over breaks because it gives us the chance to see new places and experience new things,” said Bartel. “It was really cool to just walk around and explore because New York is so different from both my hometown and Bluffton. This was the third trip this semester that we went on together, and I’m disappointed that we don’t have any more planned.”
Aubrey Bartel, Claire Clay, Sophie Hobbs and Nicholas Hoffman in Chicago. Photo by Claire Clay.
Bartel and friends have also traveled to Chicago and Hilton Head, S.C.
Sunset at Hilton Head Island, S.C. Photo by Claire Clay.
Many students may have had a similar Easter break as senior Wyatt Jerrell, who went home and hung out with his family. Jerrell said his family did not do anything special for Easter, they just hung out.
For freshman Sarah Heydinger, Easter break was all about family tradition from the beginning of break on Thursday to the end of the day Easter Sunday.
“To start off Easter break on Thursday night, my family always has a Seder meal,” said Heydinger. “It’s just a meal to represent passover. On Friday, we go to a church service and then after we go to a family fish fry, where we just spend time with our family. Sometimes we play card games and if we do it’s usually euchre.”
“On Saturday, I color eggs and make homemade Easter rolls with my mom and sisters. Then Sunday morning, I went to church with my family and afterwards we go to my dads side of the family for lunch, and then my moms side for dinner.”
Other students just stayed on campus for this four day break.
Freshman Ikzac Dixon of Orlando, Fla., stayed on campus over Easter break, and has only been home once this year when he went home during the Christmas break.
Dixon said his parents drove him the 15 hours it takes to get from his house to Bluffton University, in the fall, then flew him down for Christmas and flew him back up after Christmas. His parents will make the 15-hour trek to pick him up again once spring semester is over. Dixon said he uses his breaks on campus to relax and watch TV. With Marbeck and The Commons being closed, Dixon said he has to fend for himself when it comes to his food.
“I ate Chinese food, not everyday though,” said Dixon. “I would walk to the grocery store in town, too.”
