Students in COMM 2311-601 helped write this story as a group practicing interviewing skills, weaving together direct and indirect quotes, and organizing paragraphs. These students include: Luisa Dosal, Madison Happley, Saige Jolley, Giovanni Martinez, Michelle Moreno, Tori Underwood, and Noah Wilson. Most photographs are from students in COMM 1318 Photography 1. Featured Photo by Clay Patton.
Welcome back! Thousands of South Plains College students started the spring semester last week on all five campuses. Empty classroom hallways were polished and ready.
Tutoring Center signs were fixed in place and ready to go.
The dorms stood lit up and waiting for students to move in.
Students started dusting off backpacks as part of their morning routine.
Many student commuters jumped in their cars and started looking for parking spaces.
What’s it like being back after the semester break?
Student Saige Jolley says it’s hard getting back into the rhythm of balancing full-time school and full-time work. She describes it as walking on egg shells.
Second semester student Luisa Dosal describes her first week of the spring semester as “overwhelming”.
“Because juggling between classes,” she says, “getting a set schedule, a routine, not being able to do what I would normally do just during break is kind of stressful.”
Becky Canon, the director of SPC’s Health and Wellness, says something called the “back to school blues” are something a lot of college students experience coming back from the semester break. She describes it as a normal reaction to change.
“It’s a mix of things – more independence and responsibility,” she says, “unfamiliar surroundings, homesickness, tougher classes, pressure to succeed, or even feeling like they don’t totally belong yet. Add in making new friends and managing money for the first time, and it can feel overwhelming.”
Student Tori Underwood, a senior at Texas Tech who’s adding a second degree and also taking classes at SPC, describes her first week of spring classes as “busy”. She says she’s not surprised to hear about something called “back to school blues”.
“I’m not surprised for most people,” she says. “I especially, like the transition from being back from home to here too and living on your own and stuff. It can be tough for a lot of people.”
Noah Wilson, also a TTU and SPC student, agrees. “I mean, even myself, you can definitely get stressed and overwhelmed with how much stuff you’re trying to take on at one point. And, I mean, I can see how that can build up.”
And the semester has just begun. A full semester lasts 16 weeks.
When asked how she would describe week one of this semester, Michelle Moreno, who sits near Jolley in class, said, “I’m tired.”
Becky Canon says good news is there are ways to get ahead of the “back to school blues.”
“Planning ahead,” Canon says, “taking care of yourself (sleep, movement, and doing things you enjoy), building connections, setting realistic expectations, and reaching out for support through Health &
Wellness or other campus resources can make a big difference.”
Second semester student Giovanni Martinez suggests keeping a schedule book to keep stuff neat and organized before the semester becomes more “chaotic” over time.
“There are a lot of things to keep track of this time around,” he says. “As second semester, there are a lot more than the first semester, if that makes sense.”
It does. And as students start hitting the books, they might want to keep in mind there is a spring break this semester. It rolls around in week 10. Of course, midterm exams usually arrive just before that.
So, hang in there. And welcome back!
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