Four more days of waking up before noon and studying long past dusk remain until the long-awaited week of solace known as spring break arrives in Memphis.
University of Memphis student plans for the nine-day retreat from academia are varied, traditional and sometimes just plain cool.
Images of extravagant vacations in paradise may enter a daydreaming student's mind in class, but for many students that is as close as they'll get. Others have simple plans with the purpose of getting their minds somewhere other than between Southern and Central Ave, while a lucky portion are going on trips students long to take.
"I'm going to London ... for a week," said Rachel Goodwin, junior English literature major.
It's Goodwin's first time out of the country and she said next week's plans are primed to be one of the best spring breaks she's ever had. Still, the flight across the Atlantic is a bit intimidating.
"I'm going by myself, and I'm kind of freaked out," she said.
Renee Payne, senior MIS major is staying a little closer to home. She is going to Detroit, Mich., with her husband to possibly assist in the production of a gospel album and to start her own.
"I sing and write," said Payne, who has written close to 500 songs and participates in the work-study program as a public relations assistant for the physics department.
Renee's husband is a guitarist, and while in Detroit they plan to help record producer Carnell Murrell with his work.
Payne will spend her spring break in a more urban setting compared to Jessica Bearden.
"I'm going camping in Savannah, Tenn.," the journalism major said. "I just don't have any money to go anywhere."
Money doesn't appear to be a problem for Orlando-bound Jesse Brown.
"I'm going down there and mooch off some people we know," said the freshman. "My friend's dad is down there and he has some connections at hotels."
Then there is journalism major Andrea Coletta, whose spring break serves almost as a birthday gift. She'll have all week to celebrate her birthday, which is Saturday.
And finally, Sasha Cooper likely represents out-of-state students across campus that use spring break to get back to their roots.
"I'm going home to Missouri," she said. "I just want to get off campus."
And 19,485 students know just what she means.
