Back from Spring Break

By Sophia Teoh

The first day of “Back to School from Spring Break” was filled with hugs, friendly hellos, and the usual questions “How was your break? Did you do anything interesting over the break?” And of course, the chatter and rhythm of a normal school day at Dalat.  

As the all-too-familiar C minor tune of the school bell ushered Dalat’s high school students to their classes, be it AP Calculus BC, choir, and whatever else, Mr. Scott Uzzle stood tall with a congenial smile, calling our names and saying his usual loud, confident “GOOD MORNING.” Some students would smile, and some students would wish him good morning back with a friendly salute.  

Many people wish for a slow easing back into the normal routine of school following a break. I would say that it would be a mix of slow and fast. In Calculus BC class with Mrs. Sara Kearney, the 20 or so students were given a practice check-in quiz to prepare them well for an upcoming test that struck terror in the hearts of many, but there was also the beloved supply of cookies, named after the German mathematician Leibniz, that eased the tension a little.  

It is truly great to be back, even if it meant our break needed to come to an end. I enjoyed hearing what my friends had to share about their breaks. Marissa Elliott (Grade 12) animatedly shared about her Langkawi adventures; Jadyn Bui (Grade 12) recalled her unforgettable trip with her family to Cambodia and the happiness of the local kids despite them living in poverty without access to basic necessities (this description was enriched by Naomi Neiger (Grade 10) who remembered her Cambodia Impact Trip and how the locals at one of the Cambodian slums would always make the most out of the little supplies they had such as building playgrounds with PVC tubes and simple equipment); and my mom and I went to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate my belated birthday.

There is just something bittersweet about the end of a holiday and the transition back to school.  You get to see your companions again and hear all the exciting stories from your friends even if it means going back to the usual pattern of homework and assessments here and there. People get new looks such as by perming hair, re-dyeing hair, getting a haircut, buying new shoes, you name it. It’s safe to say that all of us high school students greatly appreciated this spring break Dalat had to offer and it allowed us to unwind from the pressures of our upcoming final exams (for some of us, these exams will play a significant role in the next chapter of our lives). Not only that, but it lets us cut down the time we spend using our screens to complete our tasks and invites us to slow down. I hope Dalat School will continue to maintain this much-loved practice of providing its students with a well-deserved break during the spring for everyone’s happiness and wellbeing.

Welcome back, everyone.  I hope you have rested well.