A fall reading break could be tricky, but worth it

How UFV implementing this change could benefit students’ mental health.

JAYDEN TALVIO

With reading break coming up, I have two things on my mind. The first is how excited I am to have a “break” off of school (I use quotation marks since we all know that reading break isn’t much of a break, but a chance to catch up on our homework and hope to get some well-deserved rest). The second is that I wish we could get a reading break in the fall as well.

I remember having a conversation with a few of my peers last semester about how much we would all appreciate a break in the fall. I didn’t know that around the same time we had this discussion, there was a larger movement brewing that was (and still is) continuing to advocate for a fall reading break. Shout out to the Student Union Society (SUS) squad. I also had no idea at the time we were discussing this, that UBC had already implemented one in 2021.

I think that UFV should institute a fall reading break for the same reason that UBC did, and for the same reason that the UFV SUS advocates for one: mental health. Some of us (cough cough, me) find it difficult to detach from the demands of school if we are not forced into some downtime. When students are scheduled to take time off, I feel like I am doing my part by not studying mercilessly for once; in other words, I feel it is my duty to prioritise my

mental health.

Sure, maybe not everyone, if anyone, will be able to fully take a break from studying, but (assuming that no professors decide to pile on extra work for us to do during our break) at least we will have a chance to not have any additional homework to do while we’re on our break.

On Jan. 13, SUS proposed at the UFV Senate meeting that an autumn reading break could be scheduled during the week of Thanksgiving or the week of Remembrance Day. I think that either of these two weeks would be excellent, as they are already shortened weeks due to the statutory holidays. However, I would favour Thanksgiving because this would give us a full week to connect with our relatives rather than just one weekend. For those whose families live far away, getting a full week off of school might afford the necessary travel window in order to visit with their relatives for at least a few days over Thanksgiving — something that might not be possible for many students over just a long-weekend. What is the benefit of getting to spend quality time with one’s family? You guessed it — improved mental health.

Admittedly, yes, a reading break during the fall semester would require some more logistic planning on the part of the higher-ups at UFV, but I think it would be worth it. After all, the UFV staff could probably use a break from us too.

What’s that smell in the air? Smells like… flowers and chocolate — must be Valentine’s Day. Every year there is a rush of panic over this pivotal day of romantic gestures. The day has passed this year, but the sentiments remain. It seems like this is a day that glorifies people in romantic relationships and shines a glaring light on those who are single. I would like to propose a modern reboot of Valentine’s Day.

Instead of making it a day to glorify only romantic relationships, I say we go back to our grade school days of passing little note cards to one another, professing our friendship. Love exists beyond that of the romantic variety. We should celebrate platonic and familial love in addition to the romantic.

There have been many Saint Valentine’s to exist, but Valentine’s Day is commonly associated with Saint Valentine of Terni, who is generally believed to have been persecuted and jailed for his religious faith and marrying people illegally. While imprisoned he grew close to his jailor, who in time became impressed with Saint Valentine and recruited him to help his blind daughter, Julia, study by having him read to her. Before Saint Valentine’s execution date, it is reported that his final miracle was curing Julia. The night before his execution, he wrote the very first “valentine” to her. It was a letter representing the friendship between the two.

the first ever valentine one of friendship, but Julia planted an almond tree near the grave of Saint Valentine to be a lasting symbol of their love and friendship. The roots of the holiday we treat as one of romantic gestures spawned from the death of a man dedicated to his faith and his friendships made on death row. If we are to take anything from this, it’s that we should celebrate the connections we make in life, beyond that of the romantic.

hundreds of sugar cookies and assembled dozens of little valentine cards to give to people in my life. I chose to celebrate the love I share with friends and family. In 2019 there was an unusual snow storm on Valentine’s Day. That year, I went on a trek to visit my friends who had scattered across the Lower Mainland to deliver little valentines because I wanted them to know they are valued in my life, despite the distance between us.

Outside of western culture’s interpretation of Valentine’s Day, East Asia celebrates by having two separate days. Valentine’s Day in Japan is a day for women to give friends, family, loved ones, and colleagues valentines. White Day is a day to respond that takes place on March 14, a month after Valentine’s Day. All this to say, they make a point of Valentine’s Day holding meaning beyond that of the romantic variety and provide a secondary day so that those who received may respond accordingly.

I believe we should shift our mindsets and culture to see Valentine’s Day as a chance to celebrate all forms of love. Love is not limited to romantic relationships and all of us experience some form of it. To my local singles, don’t fester in disappointment over not having a romantic partner,