The facts: Spring break marks the closing stretch of the academic school year. There are only two months left in the semester, two more months until summer.

Our opinion: Spring break offers us a glimpse into the joys of summer; however, we’re not there yet. The last two months of the semester shouldn’t be wasted. Refueled from the break, you should be pushing yourself even harder these last two months. Spring break marks the final turn toward the finish line of the academic year. It is a week of fun and relaxation meant to alleviate the stresses accumulated through the college grind. However, as may already be apparent to some of you settling back into your schedules, it’s easy to get trapped in the spring break mentality, a mentality that does not weather the storms of midterms and finals too well. During spring break, we come to experience life without academic pressures. It’s a great feeling. There’s nothing to do but spend your days with friends and family, whether it be at home or in exotic locales. In fact, it’s so enjoyable many of us will make an effort to bring the same carefree lifestyle back to school and apply it to our academic lives. As great as this sounds, it’s a trap. Even though spring break is over, you will no doubt find constant reminders of the spring break lifestyle. As we are coming near spring, your life the next two months will constantly be assaulted with beautiful weather, weather that makes you re-evaluate how flexible your work load actually is. It’s only instinct to want to drop your workload and spend a day in the sun, but this isn’t productive. What would be productive is a compromise; take your work with you outside and just use the weather to take the edge off. You cannot pull back on the reins of your academic work just two months away from the end. If anything, the break should’ve given you the rest you needed to gear up and work even harder in classes. Re-evaluate your standing in your classes and start shooting higher. If you were shooting for an A- in a class prior to break, set your sights higher, go for an A or A+. While achieving higher than it may have seemed impossible prior to break, as of now you’re rested and can see the end, both of which can help ease the pursuit of lofty goals. If you’re comfortable in your classes, don’t coast until summer. Consider taking on other ventures to be carried on in the fall. Start an organization, start a new job, start a new project. Don’t just start working on your base tan. It’s only two months until the end of the semester, two months until a three-month break. That is, unless you’re taking summer classes, and all we can say there is you’re either a heck of a trooper or a biology major. No matter the case, don’t let these last two months go to waste.