Why I Chose To Take A Mini Vacation In The Middle Of The Semester | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Why I Chose To Take A Mini Vacation In The Middle Of The Semester

The struggle of choosing between going to class and making the trip of a lifetime.

35
Why I Chose To Take A Mini Vacation In The Middle Of The Semester
photobucket.com

The world is so big, and I've seen so little of it. One of my main goals in life is to travel and see and experience as much as I can in this short lifetime of mine. However, being a college student forces me to put this goal on hold--for the most part. I know the importance of college, and I have goals for my future career that are in sight as I focus on my academics at this point in my life. But when an opportunity arose to take a random, three-day vacation in the middle of the semester, I just couldn't pass it up.

My boyfriend was going to drive all the way from our home here in Ohio to Provincetown, Massachusetts to get his brother in Cape Cod, who had worked there all summer. He didn't want to make the long, 13-hour drive by himself, so he asked me to tag along. The first (as well as the next 12) times he asked me, I had no intentions of going with him. He was planning to leave on a Sunday night and then stay in Massachusetts until Wednesday morning, and there was no way I was interested in missing three days of class. Being present in the college classroom is much more important than movies make it seem, and I knew what the consequences would be if I missed that much school. However, the final time he asked me was two weeks before he planned to depart, and for whatever reason, I suddenly just had to go with him.

I examined what the consequences would be if I missed those specific three days of classes, and I realized that the timing couldn't have worked out better. I had absolutely nothing planned for those days except watching a movie in one class, watching presentations in another, and work-shopping writing in another. In that moment, I knew that it was just meant to be. I was going to Provincetown.

My parents weren't happy with my choice to miss school and work, but I assured them I would make up the work before I even left and that school was nothing to be concerned about. That's exactly what I did, and before I knew it we were off to Provincetown for the mini vacation of a lifetime.

After the grueling, 13-hour drive, we finally arrived, and I immediately knew I had made the right decision. The town was incredible and full of interesting stores and people. It was surrounded by water--a bay on one side that, on a clear day, displayed the faded outline of Boston on the horizon, and the ocean on the other side. While I was there, I got to learn about the history of Provincetown by visiting the Pilgrim's Monument (most people don't know that the Pilgrims actually landed in Provincetown first before heading to Plymouth). I got to see artwork and architecture that I have never seen before. I got to visit the ocean and experience the most incredible sunset. I got to talk to people who gave me food for thought and ultimately changed the way I look at certain things. On our way home, I realized I had learned more in those three days in Massachusetts than I ever would've learned if I had gone to class.

Why did I do it? What made me suddenly change my mind and decide to take a chance on this mini vacation? I suppose what confirmed my decision to go was this thought: a year from now, would I look back on September 25th-28th and remember sitting in class and going through the motions of being a college student, or would I remember being spontaneous and driving hours to visit a place I had never been to before on the ocean? When I thought about it in this way, it was all so clear, and I do not for a second regret going to Provincetown instead of class.

Life is short. I want to experience as much as I can whenever I can, and this trip gave me that opportunity. Obviously, school comes before travel, since it will build me a concrete future that will ultimately give me more opportunities to see the world. If this were a two week vacation instead of a three day one, I wouldn't have gone for that reason. But because it was so doable, and because it felt like the world itself was urging me to go, I took the chance. Provincetown was one of the most incredible places I have ever been to, and I know that I was meant to be there. I am thrilled with my decision, and I would go back and do it again in a heartbeat.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189797
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14646
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457639
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26511
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments