Holy Week is a time to remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and celebrate his resurrection — and a perfect occasion for students to stay on campus.
I have stayed on campus every Easter break that I have been a student at Hillsdale, and the decision to stay for my final Easter was a no brainer, as the long weekend is one of the highlights of my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. When I graduate in May, my Easter memories will be the ones I most cherish
Without the stress of homework, classes, extracurriculars, or meetings, Easter break gives students three and half days — half of Friday and all of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday — to attend Holy Week services, spend time with friends, and explore the surrounding area. On Easter break, I enjoy playing tennis, hammocking at Baw Beese Lake, and taking long walks with friends in the spring weather. With more time available, Easter is the perfect opportunity to cook and share meals with friends. There is even enough time to drive to nearby cities, like Ann Arbor or Holland. Students who stay for break find themselves with obligation-free days, something which is typically scarce on campus.
Those who choose to stay in town for Easter can attend Holy Week services at any number of churches in the area. For instance, College Baptist holds a Maundy Thursday service, a Good Friday service, an Easter sunrise service, and a 10:45 Easter service. St. Anthony’s offers a Holy Thursday Mass, a Good Friday service, Stations of the Cross, and a Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass. Because I spend nine months out of the year attending my church in Hillsdale, I enjoy worshiping at that same church with the same people on Easter Sunday.
Students have the opportunity to celebrate the resurrection intentionally. They can make their faith their own during this holy time by staying on campus.
Traveling for Easter break, particularly for those who have to fly home, takes away time that could be spent with friends or at church. The drive to the Detroit airport from campus takes an hour and a half, and it is often difficult to find a ride, not to mention the price of gas and plane tickets. Staying on campus gives students more free time, rather than time in a car or a plane, and saves money. Staying on campus for Thanksgiving is not an option, as the college closes housing, making Easter the only chance students have to celebrate a holiday with their friends on campus with minimal commitments.
On Easter break, a culture of remembrance and joyous celebration replaces Hillsdale’s busy culture. Students have time to sit, talk, and worship together. One year, I had brunch after church in a friend’s backyard at her off-campus house. Around 15 students shared a potluck-style meal and rejoiced together that Jesus is risen. We all contributed to the meal, and enjoyed good food and conversation.
If you choose to stay on campus next Easter break, try to get your homework done in advance so you can spend stress-free time with God and friends. Easter is the most joyous day of the year as we celebrate Jesus Christ defeating sin and death on our behalf, and the best place to celebrate it is on campus surrounded by your favorite people.
