When the Fall months approach, students start to succumb to the trap of a “mid-semester burnout”. Mid-semester burn outs lead to students developing mental health illnesses and starting to push off all their school work. Once students reach that stage, they often begin to lag behind in their studies which negatively impacts their grades. Allowing a Fall break would give students time off to relax and transition into the second half of the first semester.
During a Fall break, students would get the opportunity to disconnect from their studies and focus on being themselves without any other worries. Students could catch up on lack of sleep, find time to work, hangout with friends and family, or take a mental break from what is going on around them. Once enjoying their time off students will come back with a clear mind. They will feel less stressed about their studies and life as a whole.
Every school with a Fall break varies on what time they do them. Some schools have a Fall break the week of Indigenous People Day since they already have that Monday off. Another use of Fall break is giving the whole week of Thanksgiving off because schools have a shortened week anyways. For example here at Dee-Mack, we have Wednesday-Friday off already so taking off Monday and Tuesday would allow for a week break to reset, spend time with family, and to travel. Lots of students travel for Thanksgiving and miss either both Monday and Tuesday or just Tuesday. Allowing a Fall break that week would prevent traveling students from falling behind in their school work. In order to make up the additional 2 days that would be taken off, at the beginning of the school year instead of starting on a Wednesday, school could begin on a Monday to make up for those two days.
While many students would love the idea of a Fall break, they would have to make the sacrifice of making up a few days in order to achieve the break. At first when students hear that they immediately think “Ugh.. more school,” but in reality it is the same amount of days as a regular school year just with a few tweaks on what days students are in attendance. Upon explaining to faculty, parents, and students how to achieve a better Fall break they would be more understanding of why it is beneficial and how to execute it successfully.
