Who else has been counting down the days until Easter Break? I don’t know about you, but this upcoming long weekend feels like it cannot come soon enough. Life here at Villanova is very fast-paced, from NOVAdance to sorority initiations. It feels as if life hasn’t stopped since Spring Break. However, I am still a full-time student who is trying to balance all of these activities, so the little time to breathe takes a toll after a few weeks. Thus, this Easter Break is the perfect opportunity for involved students like myself to recharge before finals.
Entering finals on an empty tank is something no student here at Villanova wants. It is one of the most grueling weeks of the semester, and with summer in sight, it is even harder to sit in front of my laptop rather than be outside enjoying the spring weather. On my weekend at home, I will be enjoying my summer preview and reminding myself why I need to just hold on a few more weeks.
I know this may sound dramatic, but the academic rigor of this university is only sustainable for so long before all of us are in need of a long rest. However, this break also marks the end of the year and is a time for self-reflection. As it is almost time to return home for the last time before I move out of my dorm, I am reflecting on all that my freshman year has been. It has been a whirlwind, full of lots of changes and challenges. Yet, I am so proud of myself for all that I have accomplished, the people I have met and the memories I have made.
This is another reason why I am grateful for this upcoming break. It gives me time to appreciate the year and really stop to soak in the last couple weeks before my freshman year comes to an end. Life moves fast, and college moves even faster. Friends that I have made are graduating, others are hitting major life milestones, and it feels like just yesterday I was a scared student wishing I could go back home to my room. Now, I have built a community for myself here full of people that support me and my interests. I am slowly but surely beginning to make my own impact here at Villanova as I have gotten involved this year.
While I do need a break from all that I have joined over this past year as my schedule does seem way too hectic at times, I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have been given this year. Additionally, I am happy that I put myself out there in those moments of uncertainty because it made all the difference in my first-year experience here at Villanova. I think that as we hit this last checkpoint of this school year, we should all take a moment to reflect on the highs and lows of this year. What could you have done better? What are you grateful for? What are you proud of yourself for?
This is a time filled with gratitude for myself as I look around at all that I have to come back to next fall and all of the exciting experiences awaiting ahead for me.
Freshman, Faith Malki, has similar reflections during this time.
“I think Easter break really shows how far we have all come because being the last break before the end of the year kind of makes me reflect on how much I’ve changed since the beginning of the year,” Malki said. “So much happens in one year of college and it can definitely be stressful at the beginning of the year with so many uncertainties so I think this time of the year really just shows how everything ends up falling into place.”
As the sun begins to set on our freshmen year, Easter Break allows us to not only pause and reflect on how far we have come but also be grateful for all of the moments, both good and bad, that we have seen this school year. As we hop into Easter Break, it is important to take a moment to recharge, reflect and remember: every bunny’s come a long way this year.
