As Washington College students rushed out of the parking lots after they finished their fall semester finals, many already had plans on how to fill up the much-anticipated four weeks of freedom. Some slept, some traveled, and others actually learned a thing or two.
Sophomore Rebekah Beckett said, "I went home to Alaska and brought my Pennsylvanian friend Katie to experience an Alaskan Christmas."
The two spent their time "hiking, finding different trees, and boating across the sound."
Beckett was not only active outdoors but also spent time with family.
She explained, "I spent a lot of time with my grandpa Carl and playing cards with the old ladies in the nursing home in a hospital."
WC students also had to earn money, however, and many held interesting jobs over the short interim.
Junior Gia Grier worked at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. For one week Grier helped with educational programming.
"I did an auditorium program on the Amazon River Forest exhibit and some education carts on the Chesapeake Bay and dolphins," Grier explained.
Grier's break did not end here, however. From January 8-12, she participated in a Women in Science/Technology Public Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C.
The seminar included meeting former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novella, as well as other prominent women involved in making policies that affect science and technology.
Grier enjoyed her experience and remarked, "The conference was a good experience in that I had a remarkable opportunity to meet women leaders in public policy who have inspired me to continue striving for excellence."
Senior Jillian "Keeza" Matundan participated in a similar seminar in the nation's capital that was organized by the same group, the Public Leadership Education Network, or PLEN.
This seminar also centered on women in the public policy arena but did not have science as a major focus.
Said Matundan, "The seminar allowed me to see the insides of D.C.
and meet people who formulate our nation's policies."She continued, "It was also interesting to see how they functioned under the transition from Clinton to Bush."
Some seniors, unfortunately, could not forget about their theses during the break. Many students took advantage of this time to do additional research or to get ahead in the writing of the senior obligation.
Senior Kelly Cooper said, "During my break I did work on my thesis."
She further explained, "It was kind of disappointing because all of my other friends were able to go out and have fun while I sat there and researched."
Cooper also added that having such a responsibility can make one's break "not very eventful."
In addition, this New Year's Eve did not prove to be as exciting as last year's; the hype of the millennium seemed to have disappeared by the time the ball dropped to welcome 2001 at midnight.
Grier commented that "My New Year's was pretty dull ... I went to the inner harbor for fireworks and I watched them from somebody's car.
When I'm 21 next year New Year's will be a bit more exciting!"Beckett's New Year's seemed more entertaining: "I spent New Year's Eve with my childhood friend Rae and caught my hair on fire with a firecracker ... the adventure never ends."
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