By Ryanne Czarina Villegas
The great post-semester crash is so real. After weeks of deadlines, exams and sleepless nights, the first forty-eight hours of the semestral break often vanish into deep, dreamless sleep. But once the fog lifts, so does the realization: you only have two weeks. Fourteen days to breathe and recharge.
The first and most important step is to rest. Not just the physical kind, but the mental one too. Put your phone down, mute your notifications, and let silence settle. Unwind and cleanse your mind of the buzz and the anxiety.
Read something not assigned by a syllabus. Watch a series you missed or rewatch your favorite movies. Sit under the sun without thinking of the next deadline. Sometimes, doing nothing is the most productive thing you can do for yourself.
Then comes the reconnection. The sembreak is a bridge back to old circles and bonds suspended in time. High school friends drift back into town, promising a reunion to gossip about your lives in a tambay session.
There are also the family mornings that stretch longer, filled with shared chores, small talk, and the comfort of presence. Away from the pace of campus life, it becomes easier to notice the people who have always waited quietly on the sidelines of your busy days. It’s a rare time to take a rest from being a student, a time to be present with your loved ones.
Growth, too, doesn’t have to stop when classes do. Sembreak can also be an opportunity to rediscover yourself beyond academics. You can try learning something new, pick up an old hobby, or adopt a new skill. A great remedy for the anxious feeling brought by doing nothing.
You can also go on food trips to the places you missed the most. Visit your favorite hometown eateries—the small carinderia you grew up with, the silogan where you used to hang out with your barkada, or that bakery that sells soft fresh-from-the-oven pandesals. You can even visit the new spots that have opened since you last went home. After all, nothing beats a little self-indulgence every once in a while.
Two weeks offer plenty of room for exploration. Take a spontaneous trip to a nearby trail or beach. Go out of town. Watch the sunrise with friends. Spend a quiet afternoon biking through your old neighborhood.
Then capture these moments—the smell of the sea, the sound of laughter, the warmth of the sun on your skin. Adventure can come in many forms, so it’s always gonna be worth it. We all deserve a little vacay after a long semester, right?
And amid it all, let mindfulness guide you. After the recent storms that have shaken many communities, even small acts of help matter—volunteering, donating, or simply checking in on friends and neighbors. Rest, yes, but also remember that healing can be shared.
When the break ends and the Silliman gates open once more, return with more energy. Come back grounded and ready. Two weeks may pass quickly, but the memories and lessons linger a lot longer.
What about you, Sillimanian? How did you spend your fourteen days?
