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Campus typically quiets down during long weekends like fall break. Ubers arrive, dining and residence halls empty out and the usual hustle of student life disperses.

At first, I thought staying at Syracuse University for the four-day weekend would be boring and lonely. I expected to sleep in every day, scroll back and forth between TikTok and YikYak and maybe get ahead on a few assignments.

But now reflecting on the break, I’m noticing it was exactly the opposite – staying on campus ended up feeling less like a period of isolation and more like a much-needed mental reset. With no essays or exams hanging over my head, I finally had the chance to explore everything SU has to offer beyond the classroom.

A few of my friends who also avoided the hassle of traveling home and I decided to make the most of our weekend. We got breakfast at Collegetown Bagels without having to steer through the usual Marshall Street crowds, played Uno, tested out the MindSpa massage chairs in Bird Library, played badminton in the Barnes Center at The Arch and went ice skating on South Campus.

Two days were spent perfecting our live version of the game Granny, as seen on TikTok, rearranging lounge furniture as obstacles and testing different rules for difficulty. We also tried the whisper challenge with noise-cancelling headphones, and I quickly realized I possess little-to-no lip-reading ability.

I opted out of playing Catan at Schine Student Center’s Gaming and Esports Center since I have no clue how to use a controller, and kind of learning how to ice skate had been enough of a challenge for one week. We ended each night with a movie on the television in their hall’s lounge.

None of it was extravagant, but it was fun and easy. As the weekend went on, I realized how underrated staying on campus actually is. Some people assume a vacation only counts if you go somewhere, but I believe that mindset almost defeats the purpose. Traveling back and forth can eat up half the time you’re afforded and leave you more tired than before.

Staying on campus avoids all of that. You get more sleep, more time to relax and fewer logistics to worry about. There’s finally time to take advantage of the SU resources you always say you’ll try at some point but never do. You can actually take a break instead of planning one.

This rest isn’t just nice – it’s necessary for our well-being. According to the American College Health Association’s Spring 2024 Report, 50% of students reported moderate stress and 26% reported high stress within the past 30 days. Taking time off from routine tasks can help alleviate that stress. Harvard Business Review emphasizes that breaks lead to improved mental health and emotional balance.

SU already has plenty of ways to unwind between counseling, fitness classes, pet therapy and other services offered at the Barnes Center.

Some students don’t think to use these recreational resources because they’re often crowded or we’re too busy during the week. When everyone leaves, though, these spaces open up along with our schedules. I could see campus differently – not as a place to rush through, but one to truly savor and enjoy.

By the end of fall break, I noticed that the best part of staying wasn’t just the peace and quiet. It was the people who stayed there with me. Without everyone else’s schedules and academic tasks looming, my friends and I hung out without distractions. We talked late into the night about our lives at home and plans for the future, learning more about each other. The conversations felt easy and genuine, not squeezed in between obligations.

Connection doesn’t always form at big events or parties. Sometimes it happens when everything slows down. In college, there’s pressure to constantly be doing something to prove you’re busy and taking advantage of every opportunity. That pressure doesn’t leave room for stillness.

Kate Crews | Design Editor

But staying behind for the weekend pushed me to let loose and appreciate the colors of the lit-up Dome at night, the sound of leaves crunching on the Shaw Quadrangle and the way sunlight hits the buildings I usually rush past. It allowed me to fall in love with Syracuse all over again.

By Tuesday night, when students started coming back with suitcases, duffel bags and stories to tell, I didn’t feel like I’d missed out at all. I felt like I’d truly rested.

Long weekends to travel will come and go, but chances to see campus like that – quiet, calm and yours to explore – don’t happen often. Next time fall break rolls around, consider staying. Try the places you’ve never had time to visit. Get food on Marshall Street without waiting in line. Watch a sunset from the Quad, go ice skating or try a fitness class at the Barnes Center.

Sometimes the best kind of break isn’t about where you go. It’s about finally slowing down where you are.

Addy Kimball is a freshman majoring in political science. She can be reached at akimba02@syr.edu.

Published on October 15, 2025 at 9:10 pm