Eagle Era

An opinion on why spring break should be later on in the year 

By Suhani Thakkar

Spring break gives students a much-needed break from school, but its timing this year may make it not as helpful as intended. The break this year in March forces students to study for AP exams as soon as they get back with no time for them to refresh. Having a spring break in April, not March, as students have had during past years, could better help students recharge and ready themselves for the hardest part of the school year. 

One big issue concerning the earlier break is that it makes the rest of the year a lot more stressful. As Shriya Sreevathsa (11) said, “I like having spring break later because it gives me more time to study for my AP exams as they get closer. With the break in March, APs are so much worse, since I have to balance my grades and exam prep at the same time,” she said.

A later spring break also prevents excessive burnout. While the months before break can be tiring, having spring break in April makes the long stretch before summer easier to manage. Ishika Maturi (10) explained, “I would rather burn out before spring break than after, since after spring break, I cannot afford to burn out because of finals. With 2 months of school after spring break this year, I am really worried about burning out before the end.” 

Before April, there are a lot of days off between the months of January and March, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day and teacher development days. That makes a break in March unreasonable. “We just have so many Mondays and Fridays off in those 3 months, so I feel like burnout isn’t really a problem,” said Sreevathsa. “Because of this, a later break would make more sense, since we would not really need a full break so early when there are frequent days off.”

Aside from studying, many people want a later break so it can be as enjoyable as possible. In March, Daylight Savings Time is just starting, so while the days are longer, the sun still sets at around 7:00 PM. By April, nighttime only arrives at around 8:00 PM. While this may not seem like much of a difference, the later sunset gives people more time to do activities or hang out with friends. It can also positively impact many students’ mental health, as many studies show longer days are strongly correlated with better moods and energy.

Also, a spring break in April aligns with holidays such as Easter, giving students more time to celebrate and participate in gatherings and traditions. Without an appropriately timed break, many students have to return to school the day after the holiday, which limits participation in activities and time spent with family. 

A later spring break allows students to utilize their time to study more effectively and brace them for the hardest part of the year. It also aligns with longer daylight hours and holidays, making the break more pleasant for students. Overall, a later break ensures that the time off truly serves as a time for rest and relaxation while simultaneously allowing students to prepare for the last stretch before summer.