By Rafal Rogoza –
Most NJCU students will spend their 2012 spring break relaxing with family, while others will catch up with friend and work.
““Probably going to go spend my time with family in Georgia,” said Kristen Ibaria, 20, biology major from Fairview.
Ibaria will visit her cousin and plans to take advantage of her time off to see how her family is doing.
“My cousin said she wants to take me to a bunch of places,” said Ibaria. “She has a family, probably spend time with the kids, like one on one time maybe.”
This year’s spring break is March 12 – 18. According to studenttravel.about.com, 1,112,000 students in 2012 share the same days for spring break. Many will visit the sunny beaches of Mexico and enjoy the nightlife before heading back to class when the festivities are over. Student city, an online travel company, reports that Cancun, Las Vegas, Florida, and Jamaica are the top destinations to visit during the break.
“I might go to California and visit some family,” said Anthony Okalor, 22, biology major from Orange. Okalor rarely visits his family, who he considers very conservative.
“They’re kind of strict. They’re kind of real religious so..they don’t really get out much,” said Okalor.
Okalor is not letting his family hold him back though, as he plans to sneek out of the house and take in what California has to offer. “I might go look around L.A. by myself,” he said.
“I think I’m going to go to Florida with my sister,” said Olympia Seiortino, 18, special education major from Bridgewater.
Seiortino’s grandparents live in Sarasota.
When asked if she is going to take advantage of her time off and party with her
grandfather Seiortino said, “He’s like an old man, he’s not into that stuff.”
Other students are keeping their spring break destinations local and are eager to hangout with friends they haven’t seen all semester.
“Maybe go to the Poconos with some friends,” said Juliana Maniscalo, 19, business administration major from Bayonne.
Maniscalo is organizing the trip and is still in the planning phase.
“I’m trying to work on that but its like…money, splitting up who is paying for what and all that,” said Maniscalo.
Jose Ortiz, 19, business management major from Newark, has similar plans. He is hoping to get his friends together and head out to Pennsylvania.
“Probably just spend it with friends in Pennsylvania,” said Ortiz. “Walk in the woods, a little hike, nothing really special.”
Ortiz would really like to work on some books that he is writing but the time off from spring break just won’t do.
“I want to be able to finish my books. I have a lot, two separate series. I’m going to need more than a week,” said Ortiz.
Those students not lucky enough to travel to the west coast or to the Poconos are staying busy at their jobs during the break . But they’re optimistic and look forward to seeing friends.
“I went on vacation last year, I went to Cancun,” said Ana Rivera, 19, undeclared major from Newark. “It was the best. Oh my god, even worse that the stuff you see on TV.”
This year Rivera is staying home.
“Work, work, and work,” said Rivera who works full time as a waitress in a Mexican restaurant. “I had to pay for school this year so I have to save up.”
Rosie Mendoza, 20, music education major from West New York, is staying put at home as well.
“Honestly, I have nothing planned. I have a couple days where I have a rehearsal to attend,” said Mendoza. “We [the band] have only two days out of the whole week off.”
Mendoza is part of a small concert band that is based out of Bloomfield, NJ.
When asked what she has in mind for the brief time off Mendoza said, “Probably sleep, sleep all those two days, whatever time I have available.”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” said Joshua Maikuina, 19, criminal justice major from Newark, when asked about his spring break plans.
Maikuina has a part time job that he has to worry about and vacation plans out of state are off the table. He is hopeful that his friends will keep him busy when he is not working.
“I’m a just go with the flow. Whatever happens, happens,” said Maikuina.
