Friday, students will abandon ACU in a mass exodus for more exotic locales, different climates, and for some, home sweet home.

For most of you, your mothers aren’t here to remind you to eat healthy, wear sunscreen and drive carefully. So we get to do it.

This only happens a couple times a year, so please indulge us.

Emergency contacts:

Please, please, don’t drive out into the wild blue yonder without letting somebody know where you’re going and what you’re doing. In an age of cell phones and instant wireless Internet access, we rarely think of the possibility of losing touch with one another. However, cell phones can still be lost or get broken, and you won’t always have access to a computer. Have a back up plan, just in case.

Be kind to your body:

If you’re going somewhere sunny and tropical, be sensible. Wear sunscreen and pack appropriate gear for the activities you will be involved in. No one wants to have their spring break wrecked by failure to plan ahead, so think about what kind of things you really need.

If you’re going on a Spring Break Campiagn, remember that everywhere is not as fortunate as we are to have beautiful weather in March. Also remember that you are primarily traveling to serve, so pack light and with service activities in mind. Whether it’s working with kids, serving inner-city homeless, or building a Habitat for Humanity house, you will need different clothes then you’re probably used to wearing on campus.

Drive safely:

Whether you’re driving to the airport, home or to Timbuktoo, more car accidents happen during spring break then any other time of the year. You’re tired, excited to be out of school, and distracted by loud music and your friends playing “bloody knuckles” in the back seat. It’s great to have a week off and enjoy the adventure. It’s not great to have it cut short by an accident that could be avoided. Pay attention, watch the road and not your buddies, and remember, that it’s better to be safe then sorry.

Be a smart traveler:

OK, here’s the cardinal rule for travelers. Don’t wave large wads of money around, and don’t wear a fanny pack. Let’s face it, that is so the ’90s. Seriously, though, avoid being marked as a tourist. Even if you’re staying in the U.S., pickpockets thrive in most major cities, and wearing your wallet in an obvious place, or turning your back on your purse mark you as a prime target. Don’t give thieves the opportunity. Be smart about where your money is and how you carry it and only have as much as you need. ATMs are everywhere, so you likely don’t need all of the money for your entire trip at one time.

Last but definitley not least:

After you leave college, spring break is history. Make it a history worth remembering. Have fun, be safe, and return to campus with a refreshed spirit and new perspective.