By Jake Wieseneck ’14, Commentary Editor 

On March 8, 2013, at 2:25pm, the students of Newark Academy will fill the halls with a feeling of enthusiasm. For two weeks, we will all be relieved of early wakeups, sparse breakfasts, demanding school days, stressful assessments and late nights. During this Spring Break period, a time that traditionally frees students from their academic demands, Newark Academy students will have the chance to finally relax.

However, for the majority of Upper School Students, the relief surrounding Spring Break ends shortly after it begins, with an epiphany:  What about the ‘required’ sports practices and ‘optional’ team trips? When will I study for my AP/IB exams? How will I get the application finished for a club leadership position? Are these two weeks truly a full break from school?  The answer for most is that Newark Academy commitments become a large component of the traditional two-week break.

The Academy provides students with the opportunity to pursue many extra-curricular activities, including athletics, the arts and a variety of clubs and committees.  However, to truly participate in Newark Academy’s spring sport teams or to attain a leadership position in many of the Academy’s clubs, a student must devote time toward these passions during the March break. Five of Newark Academy’s spring athletic teams organize ‘optional’ trips to Florida over break, ranging from four to seven days, for practices and team bonding.  For many teams, practices continue on campus when the trips conclude.  Although these trips are considered optional, athletes who choose to vacation with their families, rather than their team, may not be seen as dedicated to their sport.  One Junior Varsity Baseball player supported this perception by commenting, “The scheduled practices and trip are considered optional, but most coaches view an athlete’s absence as a lack of commitment to the team.” Students’ choices of what to do over the break can have an impact on them for the rest of their spring semester once school resumes.

The administration also encourages students to take on leadership roles within the school community. The primary opportunity for leadership experience at the Academy is to take on a club leadership position.  Whether a student’s goal is to be a Yearbook editor or club President, the current leadership or selection committees must review applications.  To give students the opportunity to complete applications without Newark Academy’s daily academic demands, many clubs have the applications due during Spring Break.  Therefore, any prospective leader must get up from his or her beach chair, get off the ski slopes or simply wake up early to give him or herself the opportunity to achieve these highly desirable positions.

The school’s high academic standards appeal to many devoted students who take advantage of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.  In order to prepare for the AP and IB exams in May, many teachers strongly advise reviewing over Spring Break. For Juniors in the midst of the standardized testing push, two weeks free of assignments means ramped up SAT or ACT tutoring sessions. So, in addition to carving out time for sports practices and applications, many students have to budget “free” time to prepare for their upcoming exams. Kelly Lazarus ’14 commented on the challenge of balancing school and relaxation during vacation, saying “break is supposed to be a time to relax, have fun, and sleep, but the academic and extra curricular demands of Newark Academy make it almost impossible to have a workless break.”

Although Spring Break gives us the freedom to venture outside the walls of Newark Academy, our ties to the school are not fully undone. We can view these athletic, extra-curricular or academic commitments as a ‘tax’ on our free time or we can use our obligations as a lesson on how to better manage our schedules.  Most citizens of the ‘real world’ are never completely free of their commitments to their job, children or volunteer positions, even on vacation.  Perhaps our coaches, advisors and teachers are providing another learning opportunity by forcing us to manage our time over break.  Our goal should be to accomplish these tasks and find time to relax as well, so that we are re-energized for the last push of the school year.