Thanksgiving Recess or Thanksgiving Stress? Students Should Use Thanksgiving Break to Refresh Before Finals

by The Cowl Editor on November 21, 2019


Editor's Column


by Kerry Torpey ’20

Editor-in-Chief

As Thanksgiving break quickly approaches, students and staff are eager to step outside the Providence College bubble to celebrate with friends and family. Whether it be watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with your siblings or going to the local football game, many of us have our own traditions signifying the start of the holiday season.

For the students who live farther away from Providence, Thanksgiving break is likely their first time going home since the start of the semester. With that being said, it is important for students to have the chance to use this time off to do one thing: take a break.

This year, there is only one week between when we return from Thanksgiving break and finals. The time crunch to prepare for these stressful final papers and exams, therefore, is more limited than in years past. Although it is important not to forget about these upcoming assignments while the campus is gone, I find PC students struggle to take a breather from these many responsibilities. 

When I worked in the admissions office this summer, something that often surprised prospective families was how involved practically all PC students are outside the classroom. Whether it be volunteering with Special Olympics, planning social programming events for Hall Council, or filming and editing content for PCTV, PC students put their drive and passion to work in both their academics and extracurriculars.

With constantly packed schedules and the impending stress of finals creeping up on us, it is important now, more than ever, for students to have the opportunity to rest easy over break. While having final exams during the last week of classes allows many students to go home early for Christmas, the overload that may ensue can cause a lot of anxiety and concern for some. 

 Although there is no problem with getting ahead of the studying game during the break, I encourage students to spend time with friends and family to give yourself a moment of repose before we head into finals season.