Spring Break and Simple Pleasures

Travis Robinson did not go to Cancun for spring break. He did not go skiing down the slopes, gamble in Vegas or see the sites of the great American cities, either. In fact, Travis Robinson did not even venture outside of Kearney, NE during the break. Robinson spent his spring break working, watching a variety of his beloved movies and hanging out with a few friends who also opted not to stray from central Nebraska over spring break.

While this may not sound like an ideal or even satisfying way to spend one of the few precious free weeks college students are granted, Robinson found a way to make it fun, entertaining and maybe even a little perfect. While his friends were sunbathing or getting windblown in the windy city, Robinson was constantly alternating between spending time within the walls of his workplace, Wal Mart, viewing movies and taking in the great metropolis that is Kearney, NE. Despite this, Robinson did not mind being confined to mid-Nebraska. With a little resourceful thinking, he and his friends were able to entertain themselves in the practically abandoned college town. It also helped that not all Robinson's friends jumped ship. "I still had plenty of people to hang out with in Kearney and it was nice to have more time to relax and hang out", Robinson said.

Although he had additional free time during break, Robinson refrained from picking up extra shifts at his workplace. "I kept the same amount of hours as per usual. I didn't want to work any more than I had to, especially on break," Robinson said. With an abundance of extra time, Robinson was able to focus on one of his greatest passions: movies. Always the zealous movie buff, Robinson eagerly looks forward to opportunities to explore new movies and pass the time persuing and critiquing his favorite past time. Almost as if by an act of fate, a movie which Robinson had anxiously waited four years for came out the very day break began. The anticipation coupled with Robinson's intense love for horror flicks allowed for endless entertainment for Robinson. Other films, as well as Robinson's favorite TV show aided in Robinson's entertainment as well. "I ended up watching a lot of 'Scrubs'," Robinson said. The contrast associated with the combination between the horror films and comic episodes allowed for the perfect array of excitement and endless entertainment for Robinson over the break.

Though he kept himself entertained during break with a few friends and his films, Robinson, like many, felt the absence of the college students who chose to spend break in more exotic places. "Work was definitely slower," Robinson stated. With the majority of college students spending their break anywhere but Kearney, even the walls of Wal Mart felt slightly empty.

While Robinson may not have done anything that can be considered glamorous for his spring break, he did learn a valuable assest: how to stay entertained in mid-Nebraska without sacrificing a lot of money or relying on extraordinary outside contributing factors. Robinson proved that you do not need to travel, spend a lot of money or even make elaborate plans to have a great spring break. Sometimes, all it takes for a person to experience an amazing and ideal spring break is a little free time, some relaxation, a few good friends, something you are passionate about and the ability to enjoy the simple pleasures.