Spring Break

Every time I have logged on to a social networking site this week there are either new countdowns or lists of things needed to get done posted by people in anticipation for Spring Break. This has given me a bit of inspiration into looking back to a time where Spring Break became a staple in a college student's curriculum: the 90s.

A bit of general history shows that the decade brought a change to the norm of the traditional Spring Break. A shift from vacationing solely in Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona allowed college students the chance to venture to current hit locations like South Padre and Panama City Beach. 1995 brought the creation of www.springbreak.com which helped spark a revolution in planning the week. For the first time, people were using the internet to assist in planning their Spring Break.

From what I can remember, Spring Break during this time was about one thing: MTV. Celebrities like Tia Carrere (Wayne's World) and Pauly Shore (Biodome) brought music to the biggest "hotspot" that particular year. Live performances as well as interactive challenges/games for their fans really pushed MTV into the position of premiere catalyst for a succesful week. I would always catch a a portion of these festivities from watching MTV. I can honestly say that my perception of Spring Break was shaped by the network and generally held true when I participated years later.

 I'm taking my talents to Chicago this year and missing out on all the hype for the first time in three years. It's definitely time to concede the reigns to this new generation of young guns. With that being said, I am excited to hear the ridiculous tales they return with as well as having the opportunity to preserve my liver and more importantly my bank account.