Should you stay or leave for fall break? Even though we do not have a fall break this semester, it’s never too early to start planning for your next fall semester vacation. For my freshman year, I went home and for my sophomore year, I stayed on campus for the week with my friends. Honestly, there isn't a right answer as to what to do during this intermission, just whatever feels right for you at that moment.
During my first year, I decided to go home because that was the longest period I had ever been away and I had started to feel homesick. It was a bit lonely because none of my friends had fall breaks; however, I was able to see those who went to college in the state. That week at home was mostly spent catching up with family and just taking the time to relax after reaching the stressful part of mid-semester.
I am from Florida, so it was nice to get away from the colder weather, go to the beach, and soak up some sun. The plus side to having fall break is airline prices. If I remember correctly, my round-trip ticket from the South Bend airport to the airport near my house was less than $150. While this may not be affordable for everyone, it is significantly cheaper than flight prices for spring break, Thanksgiving, or even a spontaneous trip home for the weekend. All in all, I enjoyed going home for fall break that year because I missed my mom’s cooking and hanging out with my brother. It was a nice break from school.
Staying on campus for fall break was also a fantastic experience. Contrary to my initial belief, the Midwest has a lot to offer. I enjoyed hanging out with my roommates, not having to go to class, and not having any pending assignments. The campus was quiet and South Dining Hall was open, so I did not have to make the long trek to North to get a meal. We even took that Sunday to travel to Chicago for the day using the South Shore Line. The tickets were only $28 round-trip, and it was worth every penny. In Chicago, we went to the Chicago Architecture Center, visited some historic cathedrals, ate at Giordano’s, and took some great photos. I had never been to Chicago (besides flying into Midway or O’Hare), so seeing some of what the city had to offer was amazing. Back in South Bend, we had just as much fun. We went out to dinner at our favorite sushi place in South Bend, Sushi Garden, and I got a tattoo to the dismay of my mother. We didn’t do anything extravagant, but it still was a fall break to remember.
It’s up to you where you want to spend your fall break. It’s great to go home and see your family and friends, but South Bend is a great place to spend the week as well. Hopefully, you have at least two fall breaks so you can try both options! During my senior year, I'm thinking about traveling to Wisconsin, Michigan, or Jamaica… anything is on the table