Power Rankings: Vacation Edition

Power Rankings – a rundown of the top of anything, from dorms, to EP dates, to sports teams. These lists are the final say in what is best at Exeter. Judged by us, Tyler Chapman and Nick du Pont. Because honestly, who else really matters? You’ve got the best of both worlds here, strength and blond hair, beards and good decision-making.This week have decided to tackle something very near and dear to our hearts: time away from Exeter. Below we rank vacations, days when we don’t have classes, the most cherished time of these years at Exeter, the time when we don’t have to deal with Exeter. These vacations are ranked on the quality of the vacation, not purely on the length.1. Winter Thaw: In five years, doe-eyed preps will hear from weary, ragged seniors about a time gone by. The legend, the lore of Winter Thaw, a light in a dark place, a godsend among the sadness, the depression, the cruelty of winter term will live on only through the stories passed down from generation to generation of Winter-Thaw-less Exonians.2. Summer Vacation: The Green Light. More of an idea than a tangible thing. We seek it throughout the year, waiting for it, some of us praying for it, and yet when we reach summer vacation, it is false. Admittedly, it is amazing, and fantastic, and a bunch of other superlatives. But it is not lasting, it is not sincere, and it never will be.3. Principal’s Day: This day is undoubtedly the best day of the spring. It is special because its date is a mystery to us. It is something that we are not entitled to, a cherry on the top. This day should be utilized properly, similar to a Sunday: playing Halo late the night before, sleeping late, not showering or brushing your teeth before you go to d-hall, “doing work” on the quad, tanning, and of course, procrastination until you are faced with starting your homework at twelve even though you had the entire day.4. Spring Break: Watch the movie about this, and that will tell you what spring break should be like, especially in Chippy’s opinion. Spring Break is your one chance to have fun and go wild. [Editor’s Note: I was present at the du Pont residence over spring break. We watched Netflix, and then we watched television.]5. MLK Day: If I put this any lower, I fear I would be called insensitive. But this day is actually enjoyable, a nice break from classes, and an opportunity for reflection. Also, we get to do cool stuff like time traveling, and there is always a great potential to make jokes about how bad one of the seminars was.6. Winter Break: Christmas! It’s not about the religion, it’s about Santa. Also New Year’s! But otherwise, the break is kind of depressing because of the cold, because of the fact that you will soon go back to winter term at Exeter. Oh, Winter Thaw…7. Thanksgiving Break: Too short, too much family time during which you have to deal with your overly loquacious (BOOM) aunt. In Chippy’s eyes, the biggest problem with this break is that the vegetable to pie ratio is way off what he wants it to be. A redeeming quality: the presence of your drunk uncle!8. Community Action Day: This Community Action Day, I learned about Ms. Waterman’s prom dress fiasco. This day is pathetic. It is truly, as co-editor Alice Ju wrote a while ago, Community Inaction Day.There are really only eight vacations from this place. Sad.