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It鈥檚 that time of year again鈥� can you believe it? It seems like the semester just started! Whichever place you decide to go for spring break, be sure to take care of the following before you say goodbye to the roommates and rush out the door!

1. Make copies of your travel itinerary and contact numbers.

Whether you鈥檙e heading to a tropical island with friends or going home to visit your parents, make sure several different people know where you are and how they can reach you. Include travel dates and times, airline and flight numbers, and hotel or home phone numbers. Give copies to your roommates, suitemates, or hall mates; your RA; a friend that you don鈥檛 live with; and your parents or other relatives.

2. Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

If you鈥檙e traveling overseas, register online with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or a free program from the U.S. government. You can enter details about your trip so the Department of State can assist you better in case of emergencies or difficulties you may encounter while traveling.

3. Make arrangements with your instructors before it鈥檚 too late.

If your flight leaves two days before spring break officially begins and you have to miss a few of your classes, let your instructors know that you鈥檒l be absent! Far too many students assume that no one will show up anyway and that the professors won鈥檛 care. It might sound cruel, but there鈥檚 a chance that an unannounced quiz or last-minute assignment will be made. Email, call, or tell your professor in person that you鈥檒l be out鈥攖he sooner, the better.

4. Make note of upcoming due dates and test dates.

Break out your course syllabuses and make note of all upcoming due dates and exam dates. Are midterms before or after spring break? Determine what you need to finish now and what can wait.

5. Finish crucial assignments now.

If a paper or project is due as soon as classes resume and you haven鈥檛 even started on it yet, do yourself a favor and get moving. If you鈥檙e like most students, the chance that you鈥檒l actually work on homework while you鈥檙e on vacation is a slim one, even if you have the best of intentions.

6. Back up your computer.

Coming back to reality after a relaxing vacation is never easy, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music, and everything else on your computer is lost. Use an external hard drive or back up in the cloud鈥攐r both. If you have a ton of photos on your phone or tablet, back them up, too.

7. Secure your valuables.

Speaking of things that have a tendency to disappear, don鈥檛 leave your laptop, iPad, Kindle, jewelry, cash, or anything else that is incredibly valuable in your dorm room while you鈥檙e out of town. Even if you鈥檇 trust your roommate with your life, there鈥檚 always a possibility that he/she will forget to lock the door or someone else will break in. If you must leave things behind, keep them in a safe or lockable trunk鈥攑referably one that鈥檚 hidden inside your closet. Alternatively, lock your valuables in the trunk of your car if it will be parked in a well-lit, patrolled garage or lot on campus.

8. Make a packing list.

It may not be a wise decision to leave your pricy electronics or designer purses in your dorm room, but taking them to a crowded resort crawling with hundreds or thousands of college students from around the world is an even worse idea. Things may go missing, especially if alcohol impairs people鈥檚 judgment. Instead of cramming things into your suitcase, make a detailed packing list and include a copy in your bags or on your phone. This will help you know exactly what you brought with you. Resist the urge to over pack, or you could wind up paying extra luggage fees for going over the weight limit!

One more reminder鈥攎ake an honest effort to 鈥渃heck in鈥� with friends or family during your trip. Update your Facebook status (just watch the risqu茅 photos, especially if your parents can see them!) or give your family or roommates a call every couple of days so they know that you鈥檙e okay.

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Posted on 5 Mar

Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.