As the fall semester is in full swing and midterms are coming up, students and faculty have earned a much-needed break. Fall break, while short, is the perfect time for the Averett community to unwind, travel, or catch up on life’s little necessities. Whether staying in Danville or venturing further afield, here’s a glimpse into how Averett students and professors are spending their fall break.
For many student-athletes, fall break is a time for tournaments or games. Sophomore, Annika Kellerer is part of the tennis team and will be heading to Belmont, North Carolina to play in the Belmont Abbey College Invitational with the Averett Women’s Tennis Team.
“I am so excited to play while most others are taking it easy,” Kellerer said. “There’s something special about playing during a break when we can focus entirely on our matches without the stress of classes.”
For some, it’s also an opportunity to catch up on schoolwork or get ahead in preparation for finals. Celia De Diego wants to use the time off from school to work on papers and focus on her soccer matches.
“I’ve got two papers due the week after break, so I’ll be spending some of my time in the student success center catching up,” De Diego said. “But I’ll also make sure to take some time for myself and maybe go on a day trip into nature”
Faculty members use this short break to relax or focus on their personal projects. Dr. Jackey Finney, Professor of Theatre, has big plans for taking advantage of the long weekend.
“I find that nature always helps me return to the classroom refreshed, so my goal is to get stuff fixed in my yard,” Finney said. “For me, it is also important to make sure I have everything completely graded for this semester so far.”
While many in the Averett community are able to enjoy some time off, it’s important to remember that some staff members, like those in the Student Success Center, continue working through fall break to support students. Joy Durham-Carthen, Director of Student Success, and her team are still there for the students, whether it’s academic advising, tutoring, or helping with career planning, these staff members remain available during the break to ensure that students have the resources they need.
“Fall break doesn’t really exist for us,” said Durham-Carthen. “There are less students coming to us, so we use the break to focus more on the team, going through charts, and connecting more as colleagues.”
Whether they’re hitting the trails, competing in tournaments, catching up on schoolwork, or continuing to support the student body, fall break means something different to everyone at Averett University.
