With spring break finished and final exams near, students often struggle to remain focused.

A March 21 USA Today College article addressed how returning from spring break can be a tough transition for students — especially freshmen. University faculty and students responded to the article citing nicer weather as well as lack of motivation as potential reasons why students have difficulty with the final eight school weeks.

University College 101 professor Walter Davis said the time off slightly affects a students’ attitude, because the student is still trying to adjust after their time off

Advertisement

“It seems like sometimes when students go home for that week and come back, they are trying to get back adjusted to the swing of things,” he said. “Being off for a week, their attitudes kind of change.”

Lisa Peden, Learning Support Services director, said she has seen student tutoring attendance drop in the spring semester’s second half. Weather plays a definite factor and is a severe distraction, she said, as there are other things students would rather be doing.

Students are just hanging on the best they can because summer is close and students are eager to finish finals, she said.

However, zoology professor Matt Whiles said loss of focus isn’t exclusively a student problem.

“It’s in faculty too,” he said. “Sometimes after spring break I think you lose some momentum, and you just start focusing on wanting to be done with this semester.”

Whiles said he has not noticed a general grade fluctuation. Rather, he said he notices is a dip in enthusiasm.

“Students have the realization that there are only so many tests and such left to get the grade up, and even though there may be a reduced enthusiasm, you get this ‘finish strong’ approach,” Whiles said. “I think those counteract each other.”

Advertisement*

From freshmen to seniors, the spring break aftereffects can take a toll. Some students said returning from break can be an adjustment, but others weren’t so sure.

Kelsey Obrien, a freshman from Arlington Heights studying pre-nursing, said it is difficult to get back in to school after the break.

“Coming back and having all this work, it’s kind of hard to get back into the swing of things,” she said.

On the other hand, David Dressel, a junior from Carol Stream studying zoology, said he does not find it hard to adjust.

“I thought spring break worked as a break, and when you come back you basically have eight weeks of hard work,” he said. “I got into the swing of things pretty easily.”

Abdullah Aoruwaili, a sophomore from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, studying computer science, said he seconds Dressel’s points. He said it’s not hard to return to a schoolwork mindset, and students get used to it the first or second day back from break.

One reason there for a lack of enthusiasm is the weather change, as summer inches closer, he said.

Kevin Moore, a senior from Galesburg studying education, said he does not see the weather as a distraction, but rather a motivation. Nicer conditions give him more energy to work, he said.

However, Dressel said the nicer weather makes things more distracting. Instead of spending hours in the library, he said, he could be doing other activities such as hiking or biking.

Obrien said as an ultimate frisbee player, she wants to be outside. It puts her in a better mood — a happier mood.

Davis said weather distracts students and faculty.

“Now that it’s springtime, you tend to might not want to go to class,” he said. “You might want to skip a day. As employees we feel like that when it’s sunny outside. … It tends to fluctuate with the behavior.”

The semester’s final half could have many benefits and distractions, but Davis said, it is up to students to practice time management even though the staff tries to help students prepare.

“We can lead a horse to water, but we can’t make them drink,” he said.