I could sit here and tell you that you should have spent your Spring Break volunteering at a local shelter, serving food to the homeless or assisting the Red Cross. Or, I can not be a hypocrite and tell you what I really think you should have done – absolutely nothing.

To reiterate my last column, we work hard. So, why not treat ourselves to a little rest and relaxation. Spring Break is supposed to be full of fun and carefree attitudes. Students attend school for almost three months straight. Besides winter break, Thanksgiving and summer, this is the only real break dedicated to college students.

This is the one chance for college students from all over the nation to let loose and enjoy a much needed break from midterms, papers and studying. For one week, there was no need to walk into a classroom, open a book or listen to professors. So what were you doing for Spring Break? Instead of doing the usual sign-up for volunteer work, why not pay a little visit to a beach, vacation home or visit your friends who attend other colleges elsewhere.

Last year’s Spring Break, students nationwide assisted with the many disasters that have affected our country in the last few years and are continuing to lend a helping hand this year around. According to Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than 10,000 students are spending Spring Break assisting Hurricane Katrina victims in rebuilding their homes and lives. Yay for volunteering! I’m all for serving the community and helping out my fellow brothers and sisters. I mean, I serve the homeless once a month. I’m not calling myself a volunteering Guru or anything, but Spring Break is Spring Break. It’s my turn to have fun, let go and consume as many beverages as my local bartender serves me.

The funny thing is that most students have been students for so long that when they do get that time off from school, they don’t know what to do with themselves. Therefore, most students end up spending their short break, back home at mom and dad’s house just watching Spring Break MTV-style. And they wonder why they’re not laying on a beach somewhere instead of being home on the couch.

I just hope some of you didn’t fall into this trap. Spring Break is over and your chance to enter any wet T-shirt contest has passed.

With all the beautiful weather we’ve been having, not taking advantage of the 70 degree heat is almost worse than staying indoors watching re-runs of Maury Povich saying, “You are not the father, again!”

Camping, bondfires, beach parties, road trips to Mexico, Tahoe, Reno or visits to the local casinos are just a few of the things that were available to do during Spring Break.

We all know that taking a drive anywhere in Sacramento entitles us to leave at least an hour and a half in order to reach our destination on time. If traveling is your thing and you couldn’t make it to Southern California, the Bay Area, or another weather-friendly city, then your last option would have been to stay in Sacramento.

Besides subjecting yourself to parties and cheap booze, there are many other things you could have done here in the city. Sacramento is filled with fantastic museums, such as the Crocker Art Museum. Art shows are also a part of our city’s downtown. Last week, the Sacramento International Film Festival was in town in an attempt to bring some movie culture to our city. I guess Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just isn’t enough.

If you were forced to stay in the 916, then hitting up downtown would have been your best option. With tons of clubs, restaurants and places to try, I can only hope you took advantage of the city’s light and made the best of your week off.

Yes, your Spring Break was probably lame because you didn’t have this awesome column to read up on things to do during the week. But no worries, summer is almost here and there are more unlimited number of things available just within reach.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]