After a chilly beginning to the spring semester, many Mississippi State University students have their sights set on a spring break that promises a warmer and more relaxing experience.
Cindy Boyett, junior political science and history major, said she plans to find a beach, a popular choice on campus.
Although the beach is a popular location, Boyett said her reasons for going to the beach were different than in years past.
“Having the third-coldest winter in Mississippi, I have expectations of sunny weather,” Boyett said. “I really want it to be warm, and to get a tan.”
Boyett said she plans on finding a soothing beach to relax and catch up on things.
“I’m going with some college friends and we plan to bask in the sun,” Boyett said. “I’m gonna lay out and catch up on some reading and some sleep, probably because I’ll fall asleep while reading.”
Richard Scott, senior communication major, has chosen a different way to relax during the break: fishing in Miller’s Ferry, Ala.
“My family owns a camp house down that way, and I’ll spend the week fishing,” Scott said. “It’s in kind of a quiet, secluded area where it’s nice to get away from technology and everything.”
Scott said it is something his family has done since he was born and something that is not likely to change anytime soon.
“It’s definitely a family tradition to cook out shrimp and fish and grill out burgers, steaks and just go the whole nine yards,” Scott said. “I live about 140 miles from anybody in my family, so it gives me a chance to spend time with them. Sometimes you just need that.”
A road trip of 140 miles seems like nothing in comparison to freshman wildlife and fisheries science major Kit Warren’s travel plans.
The Ethiopian native said he will log over 20 hours on the highway traveling across the eastern U.S. to see friends and family.
“There’s an old friend of mine from Ethiopia that lives in Ashville, N.C., so I’ll start out driving up there and staying for the weekend,” Warren said. “Then I’ll be going to my sister’s place in Johnston City, Tenn., and see her and my brother for a few days, visiting with them.”
Warren said he will continue traveling throughout the break.
“Next, I’m actually going to Baltimore, Md., to see my other brother who works for a film company out there. And I’ll probably end up going to see some old friends around [Washington] D.C. for the day,” he said.
Clay Leachman, senior mechanical engineering major, plans to travel even farther.
Leachman will be joining a group of volunteers to help with relief efforts in Haiti.
“I’ll be working with a group in helping clean up the area,” Leachman said. “Most the time, we’ll be doing work in the southern portion of Port-au-Prince and Bonnette.”
Leachman said he found out about the trip through a friend and jumped at the opportunity.
He will be joining Cornerstone Missions, a group planning to lead three groups into the country that has been turned upside down by the destruction caused by the massive January earthquake.
“Before I graduate and get a job, I wanted to go on a trip like this and make a difference,” Leachman said. “In the past I’ve been on more relaxing trips. But I didn’t want to waste this opportunity because I realized I may not get another quite like this.”