Starting with March Madness! Last year March Madness started more than a week earlier than this year, so I wasn’t able to watch some of the earlier rounds due to school. Since the Spring break has perfectly aligned with earlier rounds (the most exciting ones), I can finally watch all the games at home. Last year was full of surprises in terms of the progression of teams. Purdue and Arizona ranked 1 and 2 respectfully, were both first-round exits and ruined many brackets (mine included). I had Arizona making it up to the Sweet 16, but Princeton unfortunately came to my ruin. However, it was fun to watch such a big upset, especially coming from an Ivy League team. Purdue was the other team that destroyed my bracket by losing to Fairleigh Dickinson in yet another big upset. Purdue continues to disappoint in big moments, so it was a learning lesson. This year, I will likely have Purdue losing in the second, at most third. UConn however led me to success with the bracket, winning the championship. They placed me at 93 thousand of the 20 million brackets, setting me in the 99.6 percentile to end the season. Needless to say, I hope this year will be just as exciting if not more than last year’s. While we all wish for a great bracket, I love the upsets and competitiveness so much more.
Another big to-do is spending time with friends. Hanging out with friends is one of my favorite pastime activities. Glad to say I have made some wonderful friends despite only being in Naperville since freshman year (the first year also didn’t count because of online schooling). Since my parents are likely going to move out of Illinois after I graduate, I won’t be heading to Naperville during my college breaks. Since my intended university is also far away from here, it only makes it harder to come back. While I definitely will see my friends during and after university, it makes it significantly harder. So before we all leave, I’d love to build on some lasting memories to look back to.
Cooking! There is nothing as soothing and warmth that comes with a good home-cooked meal. While I find myself eating so much fast food, especially since senior year with the off-campus privileges, I always prefer a nice home-cooked meal. Since sophomore year, I developed a sort of love for cooking. It started with baking a simple cake, to making tiramisu. From making a simple pasta to orange chicken. As much as I gained this sort of love for cooking, I haven’t necessarily delved deep into it, especially with the time I put in. I always save many recipes on Instagram, to use them as soon as I can, but never end up getting to them. Over the break, I want to spend some more time in the kitchen. I find myself eating Nashville hot chicken in many fast food places, I might as well give it a shot at home. A Crème Brûlée is a dessert I’ve always wanted to make but always put off because I never made the time. I would start with some easier dishes over the break and then build on my skills in the kitchen, and to develop my newfound passion.
There is one thing on this list I dread, AP exams. While I wish that I could be carefree about the exams and not study too much, the credits I could gain this year particularly would put me ahead in college. Most of us are unfortunately in this very predicament. If I don’t get to the actual studying part of the plan over break, I do want to make it a point to at least create a schedule on how and when I would study for each of my exams.
Last but not least; working out! I’ve had a very inconsistent schedule of working out ever since I began going to the gym. I skip a day because I procrastinated for a test, or another day because I got less sleep from procrastinating for a test or any 100 other reasons to do so. As soon as I finish this hectic week, I will follow through with a consistent schedule to head to the gym, whether it be before school or later in the evening.
I have to say I created quite an ambitious list of activities, but a feasible list.