Opinion: Spring break time to celebrate youth, use it wisely

The history of spring break dates back to the end of World War II when college students made a Mecca to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That means your grandfathers and your grandmothers at one point in time were bonging beer out of wooden funnels and lead pipes.

They were kicking off their knickers and bloomers, getting down in the sun the same time in March that we do today. No other celebration or time of the year can touch spring break.

By midway through spring semester you don’t just not want to go to class, you want to set all your books ablaze and run around campus like a naked Comanche covered in war paint yelling war calls. Spring break comes at a perfect time, but not ours. Our spring break is later than most in the state but we get more summer than most in the state, starting later.

Timing aside, the importance of this vacation for every college students’ mental state is of the upmost importance. What is the best way to work off the stress of a semester, nagging professors and constant pressure?

I would never think of glorifying drinking to excess, promiscuity or craziness in general. There is one week, however, out of the year that it is perfectly acceptable--spring break.

Not everyone turns his or her week long furlough into an epic binge, though and for that, way to go! Some do, however and they do it in a mildly responsible matter. I know the times I have spent on the beach in a complete stupor; burnt to a crisp, playing hours of Frisbee have been some of the best times of my life.

There are a few do’s and don’ts for Spring break that will make the experience the best time you will never remember.

1.) Packing at least a few days before you leave is a must. I packed for South Padre my freshman year while my ride was waiting outside of Elsey. Forgot some serious essentials that seriously cramped my style, which was a lack of underwear.

2.) Change drivers. OK, so we all know you are a bad ass. You don’t have to prove it by slamming 16 Red Bulls, popping an Adderall and driving straight through the entire way south like that crazy astronaut chick that put on a diaper as to not waste anytime in pursuit of her cheating astronaut boyfriend.

3.) Don’t pull a Natalee Holloway. I don’t want to be insensitive but if you just so happen to be a hot blonde American and you also just so happen to be totally wasted and you just so happen to meet some trusting locals that are dying to meet an American, it’s probably a good call to not get in their rusted out 1973 van with tinted windows.

4.) Do not get a tattoo. I don’t care how much of a Journey fan you are or how positive you are that you will still love that tribal symbol on your lower back, you will regret it later.

5.) Don’t drink and drive, smoke and fly.

The do’s are going to be pretty self-explanatory because everyone knows what you are supposed to do on spring break, have a wicked awesome time.

Just to be on the safe side though I’m going to throw a few pointers out there. If you don’t like it, send it right on back.

1.) Do go parasailing and or bungee jumping if you are afraid of heights. What better time than now, right?

2.) Do bring a beach ball and appropriate materials for volleyball. Like watching a star be born in the cosmos or mosquitoes to a porch light, all it takes is a ball and net for bikini-clad co-eds to be blowin’ up your spot.

3.) Do leave whatever happens on spring break behind. As much as you would love to put those two Girls-Gone-Wild girls and that midget making out in the shower on Youtube, that may not be a good idea.

The trees are growing back their leafs, the flowers are blossoming, April showers bring May flowers and stuff like that.

This is the time to celebrate youth and revel in the debauchery of sinning with your parents’ money.

Go and invade the beaches of Daytona, Panama City and Clearwater.

Go fourth to South Padre and San Lucas.

Drink drinks with umbrellas and fruit in them. That girl is way out of your league but go talk to her anyways.

Go ahead and go skinny-dipping in your hotel pool, there’s no way you’ll get busted. This is spring break.

This is our time.