For most students, the first two months of the spring semester seem to drag on. But from March 17-21, students get to trade in their backpacks for beach bags and take a break from quizzes, tests and essays.

Many students plan fun trips for spring break with their friends to warm places like South Padre Beach, Texas, and Panama City, Fla. Senior Tim Laughlin and his friends will be driving down to Padre as a finale to his senior year.

“I’m just excited to be there and to people watch,” Laughlin said.

Laughlin went to Panama City his freshman year at Baker.

“I think it’ll be more fun in Padre during the day than it was in Panama, ” he said. “There will be live performances and I get to see my friends from (Texas Christian University) while I’m there.”

Laughlin and his fellow travelers have been planning their trip for a while. They found hotel accommodations along the beach, just minutes from Coca-Cola Beach, where 12,000-18,000 spring-breakers flock to have a good time.

They had to set a budget for the trip to keep the costs down. They are hoping to keep it cheap by bringing their own food and by driving, two things that add up quickly.

But not all students will be hitting infamous party spots for their break. Many student-athletes will be traveling with their teams to play in tournaments or games. Junior Zach Aldrich and the tennis team will be flying to New Orleans.

“The best and the worst part about spring break with your team is the structure,” Aldrich said. “It’s great that you have this group that you do everything with, but at the same time – it’d be nice to be able to have that freedom to do whatever you want to do.”

Although the team members do get two free days while they are in ‘The Big Easy,’ Aldrich and a few other players won’t turn 21 in time to benefit from the “typical spring break” that many students get to enjoy.

“It’s $350 for airfare and we have to cover half of our meals,” Aldrich said. “For how much we are spending to go, we could go somewhere where we don’t have to pay so much and we can have freedom. I’m looking forward to going, but it’d be more exciting doing something different.”

Freshman Jamie Hodge is in the same situation as Aldrich. She will be going to Las Vegas with her family, but as she is underage, so she won’t be able to enjoy the excursion as much as she wishes she could.

Hearing her Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters talk about the trips they have planned also makes Hodge a little jealous, but she knows that she has three more spring breaks that she can spend time with her friends.

“I’m excited to go, but I’m bummed that I don’t get to experience it with my sisters,” Hodge said. “I definitely want to do it in the future. Now that I’m in college, I think I would have a lot of fun with them.”

Whether it be drinking margaritas on the beach or visiting an aquarium, there isn’t one designated way to enjoy spring break. But most students agree that just having a reprieve from school is enjoyable enough in itself.