Spring break is finally here! After seven weeks of class that have felt like an eternity, Guilford students are finally getting some much-deserved down time.

Along with all of Guilford’s classrooms, The Guilfordian’s headquarters will be silent next week. In our last staff editorial before we turn off the lights in HQ, The Guilfordian’s editorial board wants to provide some tips and information to make sure everyone has a fun but safe break.

For those who are traveling, whoever is behind the wheel should be focused on the road and the road alone. Leave the navigating, DJing and snack coordination to the passengers.

Remember to be mindful of the speed limit. Your insurance will skyrocket after a ticket, but not as much as it will if you total your vehicle. Leave speeding to the professionals who do it on Sundays—our sports editor watches these pros religiously.

Once you get to wherever you are going, remember to stay safe while partying.

Know your limit around alcohol, and don’t go over it. Your friends want to let loose and have a good time as well, and they can’t do that if they’re too busy taking care of you.

Speaking of friends, be sure to surround yourself with good people and good situations. It’s hard to have fun if you can’t trust the people around you. Finally, whenever the party ends, don’t let anyone under the influence take the wheel. Uber and Lyft exist for a reason.

If you attend a gathering and happen to meet someone special, remember to stay safe sexually. Consent and a crystal-clear understanding of everyone’s intentions are key to  having a good time. Use protection; the family-planning aisle in any drug store will likely have everything you need and then some. 

You might be thinking, “What if I just stay home?” If you choose to go that route, you’ll avoid most, if not all, of the dangers mentioned earlier. But perhaps the most important thing to remember during break is to take care of your mental health.

Spring break is a time to relax and unwind; a few members of our staff at The Guilfordian are setting a rule for themselves to stay away from schoolwork. This has been a very busy seven weeks, and the burnout is evident in every room on campus. It’s time for a reset. 

For some of us, including several members of The Guilfordian’s editorial board, this is likely the last spring break we’ll have. So, however you choose to spend your break, make sure it’s a good one and more importantly, a safe one!