From work to school to extracurricular activities, it’s no secret that college students are among the busiest people around. In the hustle and bustle of a normal semester, days flow into weeks, weeks blur into months and, before you know it, the semester is drawing to a close.

Socrates’ advice to “beware the barrenness of a busy life” is something most college students need to use to reassure themselves throughout the year. A busy life is often the one thing college students have in common, but too much of anything is a bad thing. Stress, fatigue and complacency pile up next to a stack of duties throughout the first semester of a college year, and students are prone to becoming overwhelmed – content with submitting shoddy work just to get a few minutes of free time.

College is an experience. It’s a time to grow, broaden horizons, and yes, learn what the adult life has to offer, burdens and all. But the transition from high school student to college veteran to responsible adult can be overwhelming for many. A moment to stop and enjoy personal time amidst the whirlwind of a chaotic life may be exactly what a number of college students need.

The recommendation of a “fall breather” is a great start, but the problem lies in the consistency. This is, as previously stated, a recommendation. This means that not all professors will enforce the break and not all students will be able to reap the benefits. In fact, the breather only applies to students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – it’s not even university-wide.

During this time of year, students miss more class due to sickness and stress. Midterms are an ever-present thought on their minds. Because so many students have multiple midterms during one week, they often have to juggle studying, attending classes, working, campus activities and more. Many will pull all-nighters or unreasonably late study sessions, which impacts the amount of sleep they get. In turn, a student’s mental health and the cognitive abilities necessary for taking tests take a hit.

In our campus community, freshman Lakers have not been asked to go to classes for even eight consecutive weeks without a break. When they get to GVSU, they’re asked to go 11 and a half weeks without any time to recoup. Transitioning to college is a tough thing, especially when feel like you can’t catch up. Having a fall break would particularly benefit these first-time students.

This breather is backed by some powerful people at the university. CLAS dean Fred Antczak himself has been a longtime supporter of it, and the GVSU student senate has officially voiced their support for the recess. These are groups on campus who focus on maintaining a healthy environment for students, and more people at GVSU need to take notice of what they’re saying.

It’s time the administration starts listening to the voices of the student population and look into a more permanent, wide-reaching opportunity for students to catch their breath during the fall semester.