With winter break approaching, MAST Academy students are making all kinds of plans—some are traveling across the world to visit family, while others are looking forward to quiet days at home after a long semester. No matter what they’re doing, everyone seems ready for a much-needed break.
For sophomore Emma Sol this time off means reuniting with family abroad. She will be flying to Colombia for Christmas, a trip she’s been looking forward to for months. “I’m really excited because I want to see my dad,” Emma shared, explaining that he lives there and she hasn’t seen him in a while. Being in Colombia also means reconnecting with her younger brother and the place she grew up missing. She described it simply: “I’m most excited about seeing my dad and my little brother and going to Colombia because I miss it there.”
Emma plans to return to Miami in time to welcome the New Year at home, but most of her break will be spent surrounded by her family overseas—including her siblings and her relatives in Colombia. When it comes to relaxing, she knows exactly what works for her. “I always like to sleep a lot and eat a lot because I get really relaxed when I’m on vacation,” she said, laughing.
While Emma packs for an international trip, junior Amy Garcia is looking forward to something a little quieter but just as meaningful. Amy plans to stay home for most of the break and spend three weeks fostering a cat—something she’s genuinely excited about. “I’m probably going stay home… I’m going to be fostering a cat for three weeks,” she said. She’s also hoping to hang out with friends, do a Secret Santa, and maybe, if she’s lucky, head to Utah. There’s “a small chance” she might go, and she’s hoping the trip works out.
For Amy, taking it easy was a deliberate choice. After a packed academic schedule, she said she could use the downtime. “Mainly because I feel like I need to relax,” she explained. Fostering also gives her community service hours, which she needs for graduation, and she loves animals, so it’s a win-win. If Utah happens, she and her best friend are planning to hit the mountains to “try snowboarding.”
Like many juniors balancing heavy coursework, Amy is especially looking forward to the mental break. Being in SAT season especially, she—along with many other students in her grade—are doing their best to thoroughly prepare. This break gives juniors a chance to breathe and refocus before continuing the grind for good scores. For Amy, though, most of her time will be spent with friends, family, and herself. And when it comes to vacation habits, she didn’t hesitate: “Stay up really late and wake up really late.”
Whether they’re flying to another country or curling up at home with a foster kitten, MAST Academy students are ready for some much-deserved rest. Winter break looks different for everyone, but one thing is clear: after a long semester of hard work, the downtime couldn’t come soon enough.