Incoming college students worry about many things but don’t usually think about how to handle large gaps in between their classes.
Students new to the campus area may have no clue what to do at times like these. However, there are many different things — other than sleep — to do both on and off campus during breaks.
“My two best suggestions are to go to the University Center and grab a bite to eat, preferably at Chick-fil-A, or meet up with friends and play video games,” Michael Honore, a sophomore biology major at the University of Memphis, said. “They both keep me entertained and pass the time while I’m waiting to go to my next class.”
There are a few other restaurants right around the corner from campus that are great to pass time. Many students walk down the street to get Garibaldi’s Pizza or burritos from Moe’s.
Memphis-area radio host and CBS Sports analyst Gary Parrish is a U of M alumnus.
His advice? Just don’t waste valuable time.
“I’d always be in a coffee shop or somewhere similar either working on a story for The Daily Helmsman or preparing for a test,” Parrish said. “There are only so many hours in a day, and part of being in college is enjoying your nights, so if you have open hours in the day, use them to get something done.”
Some students enjoy going to the library to get some peace and quiet so they can study. Local coffee shops like Café Eclectic or Avenue Coffee can be great to get work done.
Morgan Postelle, a U of M cheerleader, offered similar advice.
“I take most of my free time between classes to study for upcoming tests or finish assignments,” Postelle said. “I have a very busy schedule, so whenever I can get a couple of hours between classes, I take advantage of it and make sure I’m ready for tests and caught up on all of my assignments.”
Many students find that once they get into college, life gets busier and more complicated than high school. This is why creating time to study or do homework is important. Whether going back to the dorm or finding a place on campus to study, a break in between classes is the perfect time to do so.
But what if your work is done and there is no homework to be completed?
“My favorite thing to do is to try to socialize, meet someone new and just have a conversation before my next class,” Daulton Cothran, a junior education major, said.
“You never know if that interaction could make someone’s day better, and it at least introduces them to a new friend,” he said.
