The Celtics won 125-71 on New Year’s Eve. I was there to see the game at TD Garden during Christmas break. One of my close friends spent a lot of his break playing SHP basketball and celebrating his mom’s birthday. Some of my other fellow Pirates went on vacation to various places, and everyone really enjoyed the downtime including me. But how much of an impact do breaks really make on students?

According to child-focus.org, Planning for Successful School Holiday Breaks, “breaks give children a chance to academically reset and step away from the stress of schoolwork”. Right before Thanksgiving break, SHP students had to take trimester exams which can be stressful for many students, including me. However, that one week of break gave students a chance to spend time with their family and friends and take some time away from academics. Thus, when my peers came back to school, they were ready to get back to the swing of things, study hard, and return to their activities and sports. The child-focus article also explains what somebody can do during breaks and how he can make the most of his time. He can play board games, bake and cook together, and go sight-seeing somewhere new. These activities can provide students with much needed time to relax and recuperate after many months of continuous schoolwork.

Even doctors support the idea of taking a break throughout the year. According to drpatrickkeelan.com, most people, including students, should take a break because it “helps you to recharge your physical, mental, and emotional batteries.” This can help somebody do well in their work, school, and sports. Mental health is an increased focus among students these days. Dr. Keelan agrees as he mentions the positive effect a break can have on people’s mental and emotional health. I certainly felt more energized and had a clearer mind both when I was home during the Christmas break and when I cam back to school after the new year.

While taking breaks is a positive asset to students, it can also have some negative effects. Recent research from 2024 in The Prairie News, How long-term breaks affect students cognitively, suggests that taking longer breaks, such as over the summer results in what is called “summer learning loss.” Summer learning loss as defined by the Brookings Institute is a phenomenon in which students are at a lower level in terms of academics at the start of the fall than when they left the last academic year. Another impact may have to do with a student’s social life. Some students have friends that do not live close to them, thus, when they are on break, they are away from their friends.

Overall, the research supports the many different advantages of students taking much needed physical and mental health breaks during the school year. Personally, I look forward to waking up late, relaxing, playing video games, and spending time with my close friends and family. Although there may be some downsides including loss of learning in some cases, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages. As spring break 2025 approaches, I am sure the SHP community will get excited for another fun-filled break.