Point Loma Nazarene University students were given a much-needed pause from their studies during fall break, a four-day weekend from Oct. 24-27. Students said the break gave them a chance to relax, recharge and spend quality time with their loved ones.
Camryn Brown, a first-year international studies major, took advantage of the downtime by catching up on assignments and spending time with new friends.
“It was definitely relaxing,” Brown said. “I did a lot of sleeping in, and it was really nice not to have to set an alarm.”
She said that fall break allowed her to get closer to her new friends who had also stayed on campus. On Saturday, a few of them ventured to La Jolla Shores for a beach day where Brown practiced surfing. There is a surf ministry at Torrey Pines Church, which happens from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m every Saturday.
She said they helped make learning how to surf a bit easier.
“The people there are super nice,” she said. “They lend out free surfboards and wetsuits.”
Anna Mason, a third-year environmental studies major, traveled to Las Vegas where she met her parents for a camping trip in Boulder City, Nevada. Her father’s triathlon team had a race at nearby Lake Mead, and the family took the opportunity to enjoy time together.
Mason was also excited to see her parents’ new RV for the first time.
“This is the first trip they took with it, and they’ve been wanting to get one forever,” she said. “They were all excited and gave me a tour – it was really special.”
Mason said she enjoyed the change of scenery from San Diego and spent her time hiking and exploring the outdoors.
“It was so nice,” she said. “I didn’t open my laptop or do schoolwork for like four days, which was super refreshing.”
Victoria Barajas-Miranda, a third-year organizational communications major, used fall break to take a road trip with her boyfriend to Julian, a small mountain town east of San Diego.
“It was my first time going,” she said. “It’s a super cute little town, and they’re known for their pies – it was so good. The drive was so worth it.”
Barajas-Miranda also joined the PLNU Concert Band’s Disneyland trip as a chaperone. The band attended a workshop called “Imagination Campus,” and she and her boyfriend had the chance to eat at Disneyland’s newest restaurant, Tiana’s Palace.
“It actually surprised me with how good it was,” she said. “We got the beignets and the gumbo – it was fantastic.”
Barajas-Miranda said her fall break with her boyfriend was needed.
“We had a really good weekend,” she said. “We spent a lot of quality time together.”
Grace Barrera 
Charis Johnston