As we waved goodbye to South Beach after a night of partying and got to the airport, we couldn’t help but smile. Full of smeared mascara, faded eye shadow, we struggled to keep our eyes open on the plane. We had savored seven days in paradise. Sure the parties were amazing and going to Ultra was an incomparable experience, but the best part was definitely that we got to relax.
We are part of a generation addicted to technology, to work and to a hectic lifestyle. Conditioned to choose a busy schedule, to take more AP classes and extracurricular activities, to become a leader, we forget that having fun is as fundamental as being productive. And that’s what spring break is about. It’s a week that can teach us the beauty of indulging without feeling guilty — eating gelato in the sun while staring at the handsome Italian man that sells it, waking up at noon, tanning without thinking of skin cancer, dancing until your feet hurt or hitting Equinox when the rest of your friends are drinking at the beach. Whatever your choice is, this is a week to do whatever you want.
There is, however, a difference between indulging and having moments of weakness, moments in which your wisdom flakes, you forget all your rationalizing and act too impulsively. After waking up with a guilty conscious (also known as a lump in your throat at 11am) or an urgent need to check your phone incessantly, you know you’ve crossed a line. There is nothing wrong in doing whatever you want, in enjoying the blissfulness that comes with a lack of responsibility, but when you play with fire, the story takes a different turn. Confusion creeps up on you and you get too pensive during parties. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there, and we are always left wondering why, oh why, did we let ourselves get into this mess?
The answer, our darling readers, is simple: we equate a lack of responsibility to a lack of will, forgetting that certain things are toxic rather than indulging. So, with this issue, we want to encourage you to have fun but stay wise while doing so. Aida Manduley tells us the benefits of being wiser with our healthcare — if we know our bodies, we are more likely to understand what doctors and pills are actually for. Our campus cutie, Kayla Skinner, is perhaps one of the wisest people we’ve met. Full of honest advice and unconditional support, this girl is an exceptional collegiette™. Finally, our very own Luisa shows us one of Brown’s most cherished professor, Barrett Hazeltine — a man who truly knows how to inspire his students to be bold yet smart about their choices. All in all, just remember, life is constant learning process.
Getting ready for post-spring break syndrome,
Luisa & Haruka
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Brown chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.