A Day Off

The real reason why all students are praying for a free day

The excitement is always palpable whenever rumors begin circulating throughout Middlesex about an upcoming free day. Students, unable to receive a confirmation until the night before, resort to desperately hoping and praying that Mrs. Speers will come to our rescue and persuade teachers to postpone tests to another day.

I can still vividly remember the first free day of this school year. No one in my dorm was doing their work because we all heard that a free day was coming. Everyone was refreshing their inboxes every few minutes, waiting for an email to arrive. As soon as we saw the email from Gaby, people burst into screams, racing back and forth through the hallways, eager to spread the much anticipated news before we even clicked on the video of Mrs. Speers, Kwame, and Gaby. 

This time, however, the exact timing of this free day was much harder to predict because of the unpredictable weather, upcoming Super Bowl, and better-guarded secrets. With a snow day on Thursday, any chance of a free day on Friday was squashed. Rumors are still circulating that there might be a free day the Monday after the Super Bowl, while others are stating that it will only happen if the Eagles win. All of this excitement sparked by a possibility of a day makes me wonder how big of an impact a free day makes on the MX community.

The most obvious reasons are clear: everyone gets more time to sleep, students and teachers have a whole extra day to study for/grade tests, and everyone can take the day off to relieve stress and relax. However, the significance of a free day goes beyond simple relaxation. At school, the constant pressure to get excellent grades often leads students to prioritize their education and academic results over their own well-being. From anxiety and stress to poor mental health, the relentless cycle of trying not to drown under academic pressure harms every student, straining their relationships and causing emotional instability. A free day gives students 24 hours to prioritize themselves, finally putting self-care at the top of the to-do list.

A free day boosts the morale of the entire MX community, allowing a small break for everyone to collect themselves before returning to a positive learning environment. During the long, gloomy weeks of winter, almost all students feel strangled by a monotonous routine, one that involves no time for relaxation, filled only with schoolwork and athletic commitments. A free day breaks us free from such a dismal routine, allowing the joy and positivity that characterize the MX community to shine again.

Michelle Cai