The Crusader Update

Plans for a Healthy and Safe Spring Break

If your student is travelling to vacation with friends or to the mission field remind them to:

1.      Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and make time for a decent amount of sleep each day.

2.      Be true to themselves: your students are discovering who they are and who God wants them to be.  They know the difference between right and wrong.  Encourage them to use their best judgment when faced with decisions over the break.  Stay within the laws of the land as well as God’s laws and escape a great deal of unnecessary trauma.

3.      If travelling to a new place, remind them to stick with a ‘buddy’; someone they know.  They’ll stay safer if they stick together.

4.      Remind them to secure their personal property; keep wallets, purses, and backpacks close to the body and be aware of their surroundings.  This discourages pickpockets.

5.      Remind them to keep emergency phone numbers close in case of need.

6.      If spending a great deal of time outdoors (whether on a service project or lounging on the beach), wear sunscreen and sunglasses.  A sunburn can ruin Spring Break.

7.      Keep a clear head in order to keep yourself and your friends safe.  Stick with friends and don’t go off with people you don’t know.  A safe Spring Break is possible as long as students stay smart!

If your student is coming home for Spring Break:

1.      Remember that your student has been ‘giving their all’ to their studies and are in need of a true break from the daily regimen to which they are accustomed.  Don’t be surprised if they want to sleep in.  They may also want to see old friends who have returned home for Spring Break, and therefore will not spend their entire break in your company.

2.      Take their college ‘temperature’ by asking simple questions about how their college life is going.  Try not to nag about grades or future plans.  They are growing and learning to become adults.  By engaging them in genuine conversation in lieu of interrogation, you may just be surprised at how much they are maturing.

3.      Don’t take it personally if they seem to be somewhat detached.  Remember, they will always be your son or daughter . . . they are just learning to spread their wings, and the world is big.

4.      Your continued love and support is what they need for a healthy, safe Spring Break and a successful college experience.

Go Cru,

Steve Theodore

Vice President for Student Affairs

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor