Fall Break: What Happened Across the Oxford Community?
Oxford College of Emory University quieted down as students gathered their luggage, filed into cars, and left their classrooms behind. The campus was still but not empty, the quietest it had been in over a month. Fall Break had officially begun.
Fall Break is just a short four-day weekend - it still is a much-needed break for students to rest, travel, reconnect with friends, or even just catch up on schoolwork.
“I plan on balancing work and life by playing cards between study sessions with my friends, where I catch up on homework,” first-year student Athena Cai 26Ox said.
For others, this break was devoted entirely to rest, allowing them to set aside their schoolwork and truly unwind.
“I am thinking about watching Netflix in my bed and chilling,” First-year student Jaelyn Hwang 26Ox said, “maybe eating good food too”.
Fall Break falls at a time of major seasonal change. The air grows crisper, the leaves transform into wonderful colors, and the outdoors becomes more beautiful with each passing day.
Some students took advantage of Oxford’s southern location, taking a road trip with friends to the Smokey Mountains just a few hours north.
“Some of my friends and I are planning a road trip up to the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee," Second-year student Alan Zhou 26Ox said, “we hope to wander into the woods to live deliberately, enjoying our time hiking, relaxing, and being with friends.”
Additionally, even clubs at Oxford created opportunities for those staying on campus. Volunteer Oxford planned a few different trips with a group of volunteers. One such trip was to Savannah.
“I personally am going camping in Savannah,” Second-year student Sam Birkner 25Ox says. “We’re working with Keep Savannah Beautiful and Savannah’s Habitat for Humanity Branch, and so we’re doing some trash pick up with them and some light construction repair work.”
Fall break wasn’t just for students—professors also enjoyed a much-needed break from academics, giving them time to relax and recharge after the demanding first few months.“I am going to take my dog on a hike somewhere in the Newton or Rockdale County area,” Professor of Environmental Science, Jen Bergman said.
“Honestly, I am just looking forward to spending a few days in bed,” Second-year student Brandon Rabanales 25Ox said, “that is the best break I could have.”
In the end, whether heading home, traveling, or just catching up on sleep, students used their fall break to rest and recharge.