PCB Bound!

See.....very pale

If you're reading this, I hope you are having a great beginning of spring break! 

Right now, I am probably laying on the beach in Panama City with the sun blazing over me (a welcome change from the frigid cold in Harrisonburg right now). What I would like to emphasize is sunscreen! A sunburn can absolutely ruin a vacation and make you miserable.  While I of all people understand the importance of a tan, being extremely pale, I have been taught the importance of taking care of your skin!  With the emphasis on anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products, why would you engage in an activity that would actually increase the speed of this process. 

This brings me to my next point, tanning beds. While these are extremely popular, they are detrimental to your health and result in dangerous diseases.  A spray tan can achieve this same effect without all of these potentially negative side effects. 

When you really think about, how important is a temporary tan when it has such lasting consequences? Snow White is one of the most popular and beautiful Disney princesses with skin that is described as "white as snow". So work with what you've got and embrace and take care of the skin that you're in!

Follow The Rules!

Myself, like thousands of other college students, are busy preparing for a fun-filled spring break. After weeks of stress and exams and projects, it is past time to wind down and relax!  A group of my friends and me are going to Panama City, Florida for break this year and cannot wait! However, a couple of days, ago we received a rather stern email from the owner of the hotel we are staying at regarding what actions are considered appropriate and which aren't.  This was an extreme wakeup call for us and I want to use its contents as an example of how important it is to follow the rules.

Even though spring break can be crazy and exciting, it is important to remember that you are staying on private property and not in a fraternity house.  Damages can add up quickly, especially when the hotel is calculating them.  The email specifically stated that damages that total above $500 are considered a felony.  Felonies are extremely serious and stay on your permanent record.  

The next portion of the email listed the behaviors that would cause us to be evicted. If evicted, we would not receive a refund of any of our payments or the security deposit.  Spring break is an investment, and losing over $200 because these rules were broken on the first night and not having a place to stay is a complete waste of precious funds.  Eviction can occur for something as simple as having more than the allotted number of people in the room at once or having non-registered guests stay on the property overnight.  While this seems harsh, and it is, the owners are very serious about their establishment being kept safe and secure. 

Unfortunately, as young college students on spring break, we are faced with certain misconceptions and connotations that automatically come with us.  This can cause our behavior to be evaluated very harshly and our actions to be judged immediately.  If you respect the place where you are staying, they will have no reasons to not respect you.  

So this Spring Break, use this email as a reminder that, even if they do not blatantly tell you, the rules are there and are taken very seriously.   In no way am I telling you to not have fun. Have lots of fun and make lasting memories with your friends, that's what spring break is for!  Just be smart about it and you will have a better time in the long run!

Spring Break Survival Guide: Do's & Don'ts

Whether you are headed to Panama City Beach, Key West, or Mexico here is the ultimate, official spring break survival guide: do's and don'ts! 

If you're one of the 1.5 million students that will travel this upcoming March to a spring break destination, you are on your way to what might be a trip that will forever define your college years. Whether this is your first spring break trip or not, you are in for some great memories and experiences under the sun!

Do: Take lots of pictures! Vacation is the time to take tons of pictures of friends, views and much more. However, once the trip is over, think twice about posting those fun pictures on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media. In the long run, professional employers may stalk your sites for jobs and they certainly do not want to see you having way too much fun on spring break. 

Do: Have a buddy system! Always hang out in groups and have someone to go to in case something goes wrong. Never leave a friend alone at a party or in a taxi.  

Don't: Keep checking your cell phone! Spring break is about spending time relaxing and having fun with your college friends. Updating Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can wait until your back in reality. So put the phone down and enjoy yourself! 

Do: Carry all your information with you at all times. Know your the name of your hotel, have your room key, and always have ID and cash. If you get lost, this information will help you!

Do: Use sunscreen! In Florida and Mexico, the sun is extremely stronger and clouds are rare. Keep applying sunscreen of the correct SPF to make sure you do not burn. Looking bronzed is great, but looking like a lobster isn't. 

Don't: Do anything stupid or something you will regret. Spring break is the time to have fun in the sun. However, make sure you control your actions and do not do anything illegal! Your parents might hate if they get a call from the police department  the first night. 

Do: HAVE FUN! After spring semester midterms, spring break is the time to catch a break and relax with your closest friends. You only get to be a college student once so enjoy it while you can. 

With spring break quickly approaching, hopefully this survival guide of do's and don'ts helps! Just remember be safe and have fun!