Spring Break Fever

Again it was Monday and students had to return to the cold state of Iowa so that they could again attend classes at 8 in the morning. Spring break brought these students relief by allowing them to leave the Midwest and fly down to the hot beaches of Florida and Cancun. I agree that we need a break like this to help us relax and catch up on our lost sleep, but really spring break on these beaches consists of the exact opposite. Influences surrounding teenagers today commonly encourage spring break as a time period of partying, sex, and huge regrets.

One interesting idea, teenagers cannot stay here in Iowa for the planned parties during break, but instead travel thousands of miles to a foreign destination. It is here where the real party begins, as you can see from the popular MTV Spring Break shows. The beaches, clubs, and hotels are where the kids get wild, waking up in the morning to regret many of their past decisions. The problem with all of this is that spring break would probably occur a bit differently if shows like MTV hadn’t had such an important stamp on the teenage generations. I think that there would be less trouble without the constant pressures of drinking and sex that are felt by various Hollywood events.

Now that I am back at school, I have been hearing about a fair number of incidents that took place outside the ‘safe’ Iowa boarders, and I would really have to disregard some friendships. I don’t understand how people can be so stupid, partying 9 nights in a row and getting a little bit too close with the natives. One main obstacle that these teenagers are able to overcome is the fear of getting in trouble for underage drinking. Why else would they spend the thousands of dollars to fly down into a country of poverty? This, however, will only be the first of many dumb decisions that they make over the next week.

I feel proud to know that I didn’t take place in these questionable acts. As a teenager being influenced by these same ideas of sex, drugs, and alcohol, I am very aware that it is hard to always stay ‘safe’. However, I know that there are many people who question the real purposes of spending thousands on a spring break trip with friends. I think that there is so much more to a break from classes, besides the partying and regrets that come along with it.

Good girls go a little too far and get arrested for indecent exposure, two guys get a little bit too drunk and rape a girl, and high school sweethearts quickly end their lives after deciding to get behind the wheel while under the influence. All of these scenarios happen every year, during the same time period, and in the hot beach cities in the South. My hope is that in the future these problems decrease and improve to a more satisfactory concept of spending spring break with the ones you love, in a healthy and safe environment.