Reassessing Summer Break

Reassessing Summer Break

Jillian Neuner ‘19, Staff Writer

As summer approaches rapidly, Marymount students cannot wait to say “goodbye” to school and say “hello” to vacations, friends, and fun! After all, each student has waited approximately nine months, which seems like forever, to finish the school year. However, what if students did not have to wait nine months to enjoy less than three months of vacation? What if Marymount implemented an all-around school year with frequent one or two-week breaks? Hareena Johnson and Lia Cappellari shared their opinions about the vacation intervals, and they both agreed a three-month vacation is the right vacation system.

Sophomore Hareena Johnson states, “I think summer vacation should stay the same because it gives us something to look forward to throughout the year. It is a long break, which is nice for traveling, meeting with friends, and preparing for the upcoming school year.”

Hareena’s argument makes a valid point: summer vacation provides enough time to travel and take a well-deserved break. In addition, students need a longer time period to prepare for the upcoming school year: they must purchase their books, new uniforms, and new supplies. These along with other back to school traditions take much longer than one or two weeks to complete.

Freshman Lia Cappellari agrees with Hareena, as she points out, “I would rather have a long summer because it gives me more time to spend time with my friends and family. Short breaks would not allow my family to take a nice vacation. In addition, my friends from other schools have the same time period of summer as Marymount, so I can plan to spend time with them all summer long!”

Lia also brings up another valid point: since most schools operate by a three-month vacation system, Marymount’s students would have a tough time planning events with their peers if they were not available during the same time frame.

Summer is synonymous with vacation to young people, and many students eagerly anticipate it like Christmas. Hard work and dedication for nine months seems like a fair trade for a three-month-long vacation. The long break allows for memories with friends and family, travel, and adequate preparation and “recharging” for the upcoming school year.

What would happen to summer school if we didn’t have summer vacation? Summer, evidently, does not need a reassessment, as it allows more flexibility than a year-round school system and the opportunity for unique experiences. Most students are happy with the vacation status quo, but can it please arrive sooner?