By Augustine Ugalde
During the recent spring break it occurred to me that this break is counterproductive to advancing student education.
The students at East Los Angeles College have spent the last nine weeks attending classes, doing homework, visiting tutoring labs and studying in order to accomplish their academic goals.
Most students find comfort and a sense of continuity in a routine that includes going to class everyday and then doing whatever is necessary to prepare for the following day’s activities.
People are creatures of habit that thrive on the usual, the expected and even the mundane.
Throw a monkey-wrench into this existence and they have the tendency to freak out, or at the very least, become disjointed.
Spring break only serves to throw students off their game.
We all have weaknesses that hold us back in academics, and life itself, but it is those who recognize those weaknesses that seek-out help.
ELAC has an intricate network of academic assistance available to its students and those who recognize their weaknesses take full advantage of this network by seeking help.
This help, whether it comes from the Math Lab, Writing Center, Learning Center or any other available program on campus, is part of many student’s academic lives.
Students become accustomed to the daily routine that defines the pursuit of a higher education.
Then along comes spring break with all its promise and jubilation.
Most students would agree that spring break is a much needed, and necessary relief from the seemingly endless 16-week, marathon semester, but I disagree.
Semesters are already too long.
Spring break has taken a week from my life that I am never going to get back.
For those who think that it is a much needed, mental-health-saving, necessary diversion, I say that’s what summer and winter breaks are for.
Most students who make it to spring break are serious students that take their academic education seriously.
Long gone are the pseudo students who regularly enroll at ELAC and usually drop-out by the third or fourth week of any semester.
Personally, I would have benefitted from continuing my Algebra, and other classes without interruption.
I feel as though I have fallen behind because of this break and would have been served better by continuing the curriculum instead of breaking for a week.
It is a curious tradition that must be reconsidered.
T here have been many documented incidents throughout this country’s history of excessive partying and debauchery by spring breakers who get out of control.
Many students use spring break as an excuse to indulge in activities that they normally wouldn’t engage in such as excessive partying.
The need of being clear-headed and sharp for classes throughout the semester supersedes these ignoble activities.
Perhaps the tradition of spring break needs to be re-thought and reexamined.
Today’s fast-paced world has rendered it as an archaic relic of times past that must be eliminated in order to facilitate our education.
I for one say, “Let’s get back to business.