"Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it." -John Maxwell

In my opinion, a large component of good journalism is making connections with people. Making these connections can mean sharing experiences, outlooks, ideas and even frustrations. Beyond journalism, communication can mean the difference between knowing and not knowing. My hope is to be able to communicate with the people around me. I want to share my views, and also see new ones. I plan to make posts about interesting topics, spark the cerebellum, if you will.

Topic Numero Uno: Spring Break (appropriate, si?)

Around the beginning of February, every time I went to one of the on-campus eating locations at UK, I started hearing girls say something to the effect of, "I can't eat that.... Spring Break!" as if the thought alone of that one week in the middle of March was enough to put invisible iron bars around the french fries they ogled.
Millions of students around the country anticipate Spring Break, which many would arguably define as the pinnacle of the school year. For Kentucky students, destinations include Destin, Ft. Lauderdale, Panama City, or the Bahamas.
In preparation, not only do students (girls especially) starve themselves in hopes of spotting their ribs poking out, a lovely addition to that new bikini, but plenty hit the tanning bed for that pre-break glow. My question: If you're going to a tropical location where sun will be hitting your body for about six hours a day anyway, why lay in a tanning bed beforehand? Yes, I've heard the argument of needing to prepare your skin for the upcoming rays, but I don't know how much I believe it. According to the Center for Disease Control, "A suntan is not an indicator of good health. Some physicians consider the skin's tanning a response to injury because it appears after the sun's UV rays have killed some cells and damaged others."
Beyond the superficial needs of a miniscule frame and bronzed complexion, Spring Break does have some universal implications, particularly in the finance department. When we're in high school, our parents typically accompany us during Spring Break, and pay for just about everything. What I've heard from my fellow students is that leaving town for the week means depleting a hefty sum from their own bank accounts. We're responsible for packing, transportation, hotels, food, and entertainment. I know plenty of people who started saving their money at the beginning of the year. So what's all the fuss about?
To many, Spring Break is the week when you can bend the rules and let go of the hassles of classes. Once midterms are over, priority #1 is getting where you've been dying to be for the last several weeks. What many people fail to realize is that having a fun week doesn't mean you have to go to a humid climate within 100 yards of a body of water. I was happy to see my college newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, publish an article on entertaining places to go that are a reasonable distance from the university, like Cincinnatti, Knoxville, and West Virginia. For those who don't have the cash to blow on gas, accomodations, etc., going home can be the best alternative of all. There's nothing like spending your time relaxing in the one place you're most familiar with, not to mention, taking advantage of the things that only Mom can provide.

So what is your perspective on the season's highly-anticipated hiatus? Leave a comment or e-mail me at kadoli2@uky.edu