SPRING BREAK '10

While Fun in the Sun for Some, It's Just another Day of Studying for Others

When the snow starts to melt away and the sunshine hits us with its rays of radiating warmth, it can only mean one thing. Yes, Spring Break is finally here! For many teenagers and college students nationwide, Spring Break is notoriously known as a week of partying, meeting new people, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. It is a time where students are soaking up the sun and are swimming in the finest clear, blue water in the most exotic locations. Perhaps, for some, it is the only time where the word "freedom" exists in the form of a tropical beach. It's estimated that nearly two million college students will travel for Spring Break this semester. Many, but not all NYIT students will be part of the crowd.

"I'm really excited about this Spring Break", says Kevin Juarez, a sophomore student majoring in Pre-Med/Life Science who will spend his first Spring Break vacation at Acapulco, Mexico. "This is my first time going away and I know that I'm going to enjoy it and remember it for a while. I can't wait."

This year, Acapulco Bay, Mexico will be the location for MTV/MTVU's Spring Break 2010 during the week of March 13, 2010. But Acapulco is not the only destination for Spring Break'10. Other hot spot locations include the Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama City, Florida, Costa Rica, South Padre Island, and the Dominican Republic.

No stranger to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is Asaad Jawaid, who will return again this year for Spring Break after booking his tickets early in September. "I went last year and I loved it. We have houses out there so it's a lot of fun." Jawaid, who is an International Business Major, also recalls some bad experiences from Spring Break '09. "After a party ended and we were dropping off people at their houses, the cops pulled us over because they thought the car was stolen. After hours of questioning, the authorities realized they made a mistake and my uncle came to settle everything just hours before my flight departed." Still, despite the incident, Jawaid is looking forward to a better experience this time around, especially since it could possibly be his last time to enjoy Spring Break before he graduates this May. "I'm excited to do the same thing this year."

While there are many NYIT students preparing to put on their sun tan lotion and swimsuits, other students are taking out their pens and pencils and are preparing to spend their day indoors with a textbook in their arms. For these students, Spring Break is a time for studying, resting, and catching up with some good old friends. Classes may not be in session during the spring recess, but that doesn't stop certain NYIT students from fulfilling their class obligation and continuing their studying. "It's really not for me," says Architecture major Phil Joseph, who would rather stay home and relax than to take part in the Spring Break festivities. "I've got a project coming up soon, so I'm going to spend the entire week at Ed Hall (Education Hall). Plus, it's really expensive." Along with Phil, there are many students who will not go away for Spring Break simply due to the expenses, which normally include airfare, lodging, food, travel and other activities. So what do the experts say? Book your tickets early, unless you're fine with paying astronomical prices at the last minute.

"An organized person would book their ticket in September and October. That's when the prices are lowest" says Al Destefano, head of group sales at Epicurean Tours Inc., a travel agency in Long Beach, New York, devoted to giving students the full Spring Break experience since 1989! "Most students book the tickets in Thanksgiving and Christmas but by mid-January they are nearly sold out." Destefano, a graduate from Hofstra University, mentioned that despite the economy, sales have not been greatly affected. "Obviously, the economy is going to have an impact on many travel agencies throughout the country, but fortunately for us, we've had a pretty efficient year, considering we've booked tickets for 2,500 students, which was the same as last year's total." At Epicurean Tours Inc., the Spring Break packages cover airfare, hotel, travel, food and drink costs. According to Destefano, destinations within the country range from $500-$600 dollars. Outside the country, Spring Break packages are priced at $800-$900 dollars. "It's a terrific experience," says Destefano, who takes pride in working in this agency since he graduated from Hofstra. "I would recommend every teenager to go at least once before they finish college." Nonetheless, students must decide for themselves if Spring Break should be their top priority and main goal of the year. Some may plan for months to prepare for Spring Break, while others are preparing for a certain test that can very well determine the outcome of their future.

"I'm spending Spring Break studying for my MCAT," says Megan Gupta, a student in the seven year BS/DO program who will be taking her MCAT this July. "I'm not really into the whole Spring Break scene, but maybe I'll go next year depending if I pass my MCAT." According to Megan, the partying, constant drinking of alcohol, and more importantly, the crimes committed during this time, discourage her from participating in this annual tradition. Crime is certainly a factor that comes into consideration for many students who plan out the Spring Break destinations.

According to the United States Department of State, the excessive use of drugs and alcohol are the leading causes of crimes committed in Mexico, especially during Spring Break. It's not a surprise that Mexico is becoming the hot spot for Spring Break, considering that alcohol is easily accessible. Did we mention that the drinking age in Mexico is 18 years of age? Still, American citizens are not immune to the Mexican law, as harsh penalties can be imposed upon them if they commit or are involved in criminal activities such as disturbing the peace, lewd behavior, or driving under the influence. In other words, if you do the crime, you can wind up doing the time.