By Gurjot Kang
News Editor
1. Go on an adventure with your favorite book
During the regular hustle of the school year, you spend a lot of time reading required material for your major or gen-ed classes—religion and philosophy readings…am I right?  However, this J-Term break, if you find yourself with some extra time, pick up a book and read about something you’ve always been interested in. Whether that’s fantasy, sci-fi, horror, mystery, or poetry book, find a story that intrigues you and catch up on some good ol’ reading but this time for yourself.
If you’re not a huge reader or never find the time to sit down and actually read, try listening to an audiobook.  For the New Year, audible.com is providing a 30-day free trial along with 2 free Audible Books.  The book I’m currently listening to is Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming, narrated by Michelle Obama herself.  It’s definitely inspiring to hear her life story and all the lessons she’s learned along the way in her own words.
2. Listen to someone else’s story
If you’re not one to read or listen to a book but still always on the hunt for the latest story, maybe listening to podcasts is your thing!  There are podcasts ranging on a variety of topics, whether that’s delving into the interesting world of criminal justice with the Serial podcast or catching up on the weekly political news with the NPR Politics podcast, you can find just about any radio show suitable to your individual liking.
The “Apple Podcasts” app features a wide variety of podcast shows for you to choose from.  Some of my personal favorite podcast shows to listen to are Radiolab, This American Life, and The Daily from The New York Times.  If you enjoy listening to stories from NPR like me, another great app to download is the “NPR One” app, which features numerous popular shows produced by the radio network.
3. Consider applying to scholarships or jobs over break
It’s never too early to start planning ahead for your future career.  During a free moment in J-Term, take some time to look into potential job opportunities you might be interested in and consider applying to a related fellowship or apprenticeship!
You could also surf the web for PLU or off-campus job positions through the Career Connections Opportunities Board. Â Furthermore, in order to start the application process ahead of time, you can receive help with writing your resume or preparing for an interview prior to break by stopping at the Career Connections office during their J-Term drop-in hours 1 to 4 p.m. Mon. through Fri. in Ramstad 112.
4. Explore Parkland and/or Tacoma
Parkland
PLU might not be located in the middle of a giant, bustling city but our college is centered right within the community of Parkland!  So, if your staying on campus for J-term break and get tired of eating at the Commons, be sure to checkout some of the local Parkland restaurants—many of which are family owned and just right down the block.  Since Monday-Saturday breakfasts, Monday-Saturday lunches, and Saturday dinners are already “A La Carte” meals, why not hit up some great local spots where you could eat and enjoy a nice time with your friends?
Some restaurants near PLU that I’d personally recommend checking out include Reyna’s (for great authentic Mexican food—their horchata is amazing), Farrelli’s Pizza (you can split a large pizza between all your friends, plus their root beer floats and desserts are always huge), Marzano’s (definitely on the fancier side, but it has a nice homey atmosphere, and their ravioli with butternut squash is fantastic), Trapper’s Sushi (great local Japanese chain), and 208 Garfield (they have delicious sandwiches and floral spritzers).
Also, if you ever get tired of reading or self-studying in your room and would like to enjoy a nice meal or warm cup of coffee, might I recommend going to the Notes Coffee shop?  Whether you’re looking for a place to hang out with friends, listen to some good music or play games, Notes Coffee is your go-to cafe destination. Upon stepping into Notes, you’ll be greeted with a friendly smile and heart-warming conversation from the owner John Gore who has turned this small corner coffee shop into a joyous community hub.  Â
Tacoma
If you’re interested in exploring further outside of Parkland, there’s a bus stop near Walgreens that will take you all the way to downtown Tacoma.  There, you can check-out all sorts of local food shops, the UW Tacoma campus, take a stride along the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, or visit a museum like The Tacoma Art Museum (TAM), Washington State History Museum, or Museum of Glass.  Sometimes there are special discounts available for students and days with great deals. For example, every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., TAM welcomes members of the community for free during “Neighborhood Nights” to witness artist demos and performances at the museum.  The museum also provides free admission during its annual community festivals.
5. Volunteer within the community
Visit the PLU Center for Community Engagement & Service (CCES) or check out their website to learn about service opportunities and ways to volunteer over break.  If you’re going home for break, you can search online for volunteer hours or ways to get involved at your local food bank or multi-service center.
6. Pick up a new hobby or work on your craft
Whether it’s writing poetry, creating short stories, animating your drawings to life, crocheting/knitting, or pursuing photography, spend a moment of J-Term break doing an activity you’ve always wanted but never had the time to do.  It’s up to you to create time for the things that bring you joy in life. Â
7. Catch up with some old friends
Remember those good old friends from high school or work who you love but might go to different colleges or for some other reason, you rarely get to see—invite them over during break, or better yet, go visit them yourself.  Use this chance to catch-up with each other and rekindle your friendship. Some of them might even still be on winter break, lucky ducks.
8. Create a vision board or bucket list
Having trouble sticking with your New Year’s resolutions?  Instead of coming up with goals for 2019 that you likely won’t commit to, create a vision board featuring long-term aspirations, dreams and passions you can actively visualize pursuing.  These could be anything from traveling to Norway, going to grad school, or growing taller (well, that last one might be a stretch or should I say, a little hard to reach). Once you finish your vision board, place it somewhere clearly visible to you every day.  Then, begin the process of brainstorming steps you can take to bring your visions to life—whether that’s applying for study away programs and scholarships or looking into potential grad school opportunities after PLU.
Essentially, a vision board is like the “visual” version of a bucket list.  However, if you’re someone who prefers writing over a more hands-on arts and crafts project, you can always scrawl down your bucket list in a journal instead!
9. Start a new series or watch your favorite films
There’s nothing wrong with a little self-care, so don’t be worried to take some time over break to rest before the start of another busy semester at PLU.  J-Term break might present a time for many of you to relax and catch-up on some of your favorite T.V. show dramas or films. Some of my personal favorite things to watch on Netflix are The Office, Patriot Act and Black Mirror.  I guess Black Mirror isn’t really a relaxing show but hey, to each their own!  Have a wonderful break Lutes!
