So family weekend is quickly approaching… How will you find the time for family, a social life, and study time? What activities should you do with your parents? Should you go off-campus to the outlets or stay on-campus? Should you attempt every one of the family weekend activities scheduled? Take a chill pill, we have the perfect solution to survive Family Weekend!
Tip #1: Use your free time wisely. If you know that you have a paper due next week or a midterm exam that’s going to be really challenging, prepare for it in advance (NOW!). If there are a few minutes in the day where you don’t have a planned activity, take that time to start on the essay or study for the exam. You may want to catch up on the newest Glee episode or chat with your old and new buds on Facebook, but staying focused will help you in the long run. By doing a little bit each day, your life will become a whole lot easier come next week when you are doing last minute edits or study sessions.
Tip #2: Make the most of your time with your family. Do activities that interest both you and your parents. It’s not necessarily about what you do, but the time you spend with them. Freshman, Kimberly Bond relates, “I plan to eat with my parents at the picnic on Saturday and to go see the Wind Symphony and Chorus Concert, which will be a blast.” Even if it’s just going to lunch and catching the wind symphony show, it’s still quality time. Pick and choose- if dad wants to participate in the golf tournament from 12pm to 6pm Friday and mom wants to check out the Muscarelle Museum that’s open from 10am to 5pm, and then divide your time between them. Maybe that morning, go with your mom to explore the wonders of Muscarelle and in the afternoon, practice your swing on the green. Make family weekend something that is memorable and fun for the whole family.
Tip # 3: Do a mix of off-campus and on-campus activities. Between the Outlets, Movie Tavern, and a variety of restaurants, there are so many options when it comes to things to do in the Williamsburg area. I suggest to try a mixture of on and off campus stuff. There are tours in the Wren Yard, which can be interesting for everyone. Treat your parents (or have them treat you) to some mouth-watering grub at Blue Talon or Retro’s for dinner, and maybe go to the parent lunch offered on campus at noon on Saturday. The more activities you participate in with your parents, the more exposure they will get to the great things our Tribe Campus offers, just remember a rushed visit can be just as bad as no visit at all.
So again, don’t stress. Even though there is a nine page schedule of events on the William and Mary website, you aren’t required or restricted in the things you do. Don’t take it too seriously because your family just wants to spend time with you. They will be happy to see what Tribe life is like for their William and Mary son and/or daughter. So the main thing is to HAVE FUN! Family Weekend only comes around once a year so make it something you and your family will remember for years and years to come.