Ah, Spring Break, a time for fun, friends, relaxation and most importantly, a break from the stress of classes! Here on the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Spring Break 2014 (March 9-16) seems to be the topic of every conversation. Students are sharing stories about the places they traveled as well as the experiences that came along with it.
Panama City Beach (PCB), deemed “The Spring Break Capitol of the World” by the Spring Break Guide, was the number one destination for many students. Being that the beach is only two hours and three minutes away from Tallahassee, many students were able to travel back and forth at their leisure. “PCB is always affordable, fun and guaranteed to be enjoyable. The main reason I come is to be reunited with many of my friends from high school who attend other universities across the nation.” says Nikki Nicholson, a third-year Biology Pre-Medicine student from Miami, Florida.
However, many students who were 21 years of age and older flocked to the larger city of Miami Beach, Florida. Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida and is a mere six hour and fifty-two minute drive from Tallahassee. It is full of exciting things to do, a variety of restaurants to dine at and plenty of high energy places to party! Third-year Elementary Education student Danielle McCloud celebrated her 21st birthday during Spring Break. “I’m from Miami and since my first day of college I knew that I wanted to spend my first Spring Break ‘of age’ right here on South Beach.”
Although many students stayed in the country, there were others who took the brief break as an opportunity to travel abroad. Quite a few of them traveled and cruised to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Mexico and other foreign places.
For the past five years Professor Yussif Dokorugu has given FAMU students a chance to experience Spring Break alternatively by planning a trip to Ghana. This year a total of eight students accepted the opportunity. “Exploring and learning about every city in Ghana including Tema, Accra, Kumasi, Mole, Tamale and Cape Coast over the span of eight days was simply amazing,” says Ky’Eisha Penn, a graduate student from Miami, Florida. She said the freedom she felt in Ghana was breathtaking and that the country will forever hold a place in her heart.
Unfortunately, Spring Break has come to an end and students are working hard to recover and get back into the groove. This last month of school will be spent vigorously studying and for some, preparing for Spring graduation.