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Tufts Admissions Team

College Winter Recess

Jan 30
Jason Scanlon Jumbo Talk

     The last weeks leading up to final exams culminated in both glee and glory. I survived my first semester of college. The library became my new home for the last week of the semester, and all those hours of vigorous studying was well worth it knowing that I would have a full MONTH of vacation. Going from 100 to 0 mph is probably one of the greatest rewards college gives you. We can truly enjoy our time at home without having to worry about anything. Here is my guide to make the most out of your time off.


     1.  SLEEP- For a lot of us, getting sleep during exam week might have been a luxury. This is the time to get recharged!

 

     2. Netflix/TV- I am not advocating daily binge watches of your favorite TV show, but now is perfect  time to finish anything you might have put on hold. You will find that when all of your high school friends goes to back school, which is usually the last two weeks of break, netflix will keep you busy. I discovered Parks and Rec, and that was without a doubt one of the highlights over break.


     3. Visit Friends and High School Teachers- Most of my close friends from high school are unfortunately far away from Medford and given the craziness of first semester, it can be hard to reunite with everyone. However, winter break is the optimal time to see and hang out with your friends. It is so intriguing to learn about everyone’s first semester experiences and any funny stories.Obviously, everyone wants to see their high school friends, but it was awesome seeing all my high school teachers and gaining a sense of nostalgia walking down the corridors. Reminiscing about memorable moments in the classroom and talking about any changes in the school was really enjoyable. I highly recommend going back to high school at least once. 

 

    4. Plan your Spring Semester and Summer- In high school, first semester exams were always waiting for my return after break. However, at Tufts and most other colleges, we have the privilege of not being burdened by finals, so take advantage of this free time to critique any resumes, apply to internships, or simply just think about summer plans.


    5. Relax! Relaxing is incorporated in the previous examples I mentioned, but it cannot be emphasized enough. Your brain will need a rest from finals.