Taking trips in college
While I was home in snowy, cold Syracuse, New York during spring break, I was seeing pictures on social media of people in warm places in bathing suits, soaking in the sun. I also caught up on my best friend’s blog who is currently studying abroad in Australia, where it is currently summer and the coldest it’s been since she’s been there was 78 degrees.
It was pretty depressing, but what got me through the funk was realizing I’m going to New York City this week. Although it’s not Florida or Puerto Rico, it’s something. In Rochester, February broke the record for the coldest month ever, so 50-degree weather works for me!
When I came to school, I didn’t think I was going to go on many trips — I wasn’t on a sports team and going somewhere tropical isn’t in my budget. But I realized there were a lot of opportunities to still travel.
As part of my school’s newspaper, this is my second year going to NYC to take part in a three-day college media conference filled with sessions hosted by professionals and keynote speakers. The last session ends at 4 p.m., so we even get to have nights free!
Last year’s group who went on the NYC trip for our newspaper in Times Square.
DISCLAIMER: I’m lucky to be part of something that has travel worked into the budget. Our conference registration, hotel and travel is covered. All I have to pay for is food, souvenirs and things we do in our free time. But sometimes not all of these trips are free — you might have to shell out some money yourself for these kinds of excursions. Luckily, it’s usually a discounted cost compared to what it would be if you went on your own.
Many college clubs offer similar trips off-campus. Our sport management club hosts a trip every year to a different city to see different sport venues and games. The volunteering club I’m part of offers service trips to local places and even other countries.
Our Student Activities Board (SAB) hosts various trips a year to places like NYC or Boston. In order to go on these trips, you have to pay around $150, but it’s a good deal with hotel, travel and some things to do.
Also, taking certain classes allows you to go on trips. There’s a sport management class offered at my college sometimes where you learn about different countries and how they manage sports culminating in a trip over spring break to the countries. That’s a hefty amount to pay, but there are other options. Other classes, like communication or business courses, bring you to different cities or colleges for conferences; some even include awesome networking opportunities.
If you’re not sure about getting involved, the opportunity to go on trips should be an incentive! Taking these trips creates memories with friends, while giving you information and knowledge you wouldn’t get just on campus.
Written by Emily Mein. Emily attends St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. Sharing information or a person’s story with people is why she loves writing. She can never get enough of Twitter, pasta and Syracuse basketball.
