There is one week every spring semester that every student longs for — Spring Break. For seven days thousands of students across the country travel near and far to get the ultimate experience, whether it is community-service oriented or strictly leisure purposes.

For many students at N.C A&T, this was week to not think about midterm grades, professors, or homework. Instead it was week of freedom.

“Spring break to me is relief from anything and everything school related,” said Matthew Diggs, a senior civil engineering major from Chesapeake Va. “It gives you the opportunity to do what you want to do.”

Diggs along with nine of his friends traveled to a college hotspot, Miami for their last spring break of undergrad. Faced with food, fun, and sun Diggs says this was a trip for the history books.

“This senior year spring break trip was one for the books,” he said.

Miami was the vacation spot for many students at A&T. Nxlevel, the popular local entertainment company provided two full charter buses of mostly Aggies down to South Beach.

“I chose Miami because of the diversity it offers,” said Cory Price a civil engineering grad student from Silver Spring, Md. “It gives a reason to step out the shell.”

Although places with warm climates with bathing suits to match was popular among many students, others found joy in serving the community during their break.

Jelisa Oshunsanya, a sophmore supply chain management major from Greensboro was among them. She spent part of her spring break giving back to the community in Washington D.C as part of the 2012 Speak Break Service Trip with the multicultural student center. During this trip students helped pass out blankets, water, and warm food to the homeless.

“We got to go around and take surveys of people to see which areas in D.C. had the most homeless,” Oshunsanya said. “That way we could help the most people.”

Not only did students spend their breaks in the sun and helping people, but they also competed in competitions. Several students from the New Student Programs at A&T travelled to Charlotte for the Southern Regional Orientation workshop hosted at UNC-Charlotte.

Here orientation leaders for the entire southern region came together to gather information on everything ranging from icebreakers to grad school prep.

“Last year SROW was super exciting because it was our first time going and experiencing everything,” said Angelica Smith, a sophomore sports fitness management major. “This year it was just as fun and educational but what truly made it amazing is that we won and placed. It really showed all the hard work we put in and how far the program has come

This year these students took first place for the service award and third place in the skit competition.

No matter what happened during spring break, many students agree that this was week to rest from a hard course load. With half the semester already over, students say that the break comes right on time.

“Spring break is a time where you get away from school,” said John Gordon, a senior business major from Detroit. “It relaxes your mind for the second part of school.”

• Staff