How I Balance School and the World — All Four Breaks, Every Year.
Some people hear that I travel a lot and instantly assume I must be skipping school or failing classes. What I actually do is use the four school breaks every student already gets — and treat them like four golden tickets. Spring, summer, fall, winter. That’s it. That’s how I’ve visited over 20 countries and I haven’t missed a day of school to do it.
Here’s what each break looks like for us and why each one is worth using differently.
Every Student Gets These. Most Don’t Use Them.
Spring break is like the appetizer of the travel year — not too long, not too short. It’s perfect for shorter adventures. You don’t have to cross an ocean (unless you want to), but you can still explore somewhere new, learn something real, and come back feeling like you lived a whole extra life in seven days.
We like to use spring break for the Southern Hemisphere — because when it’s spring here in the northern hemisphere, it’s actually fall there. In recent spring breaks we’ve explored countries in South America including Peru, Mexico, and Argentina. Spring is also when a lot of destinations aren’t too crowded yet. Flowers are blooming, temperatures are pleasant, and everything feels fresh.
Summer is the big one — the longest break. My mom and I love road tripping in the summer because road trips are usually cheaper than flying, and there’s something genuinely adventurous about being in a car for hours with music going and the world rolling by outside. Road trips are where some of my favorite memories live. Stopping at random viewpoints just because they look cool. Stopping at bookstores. It’s all part of it.
Because summer break is so long, you can take your time. No rushing. No panicking about missing school. Just be in the moment. One tip that makes long drives better: listen to audiobooks together. My mom and I have listened to the entire Hunger Games series and A Wrinkle in Time on road trips. It makes hours disappear.
Road trips also teach you things nothing else will — like how to navigate, how to get along in a small space for days at a time, and how to find good gas station snacks at 11pm in the middle of nowhere.
Fall break is my personal favorite — the weather is usually great, plane tickets are cheaper, crowds are smaller, and missing a tiny bit of school right before break is way easier to manage than during other times of the year. Right before fall break, school tends to be calm with not a lot of testing going on.
Fall is when we usually travel abroad. This is when the Wander Window and Flight Radar mindset really pay off — prices drop, we’ve been watching, and we move fast when they do. Our trips to Mumbai, Nepal, and Argentina all happened on fall breaks.
One note from experience: we went to Mumbai in the fall and it was extremely hot and humid. If we go back, we’re going in winter. Climate research before you book matters.
Winter break is underrated. Everyone thinks it’s just for holidays and staying home, but winter travel can be excellent. We usually take a road trip during winter — either south toward the beach and New Orleans, or west toward Texas. If you want snow, go north. Winter break is also the best break for genuine family time during the holidays.
One thing I’m hoping for in an upcoming winter break: a Christmas market in Europe. They’re supposed to be something you have to see in person. Winter break also gives you time to slow down, reflect on the year, and actually plan the next set of adventures before they happen.
How to Be Responsible About It
If you’re going to miss any school time around a break, you have to communicate. Teachers are generally understanding when you’re upfront — they just don’t want you disappearing like a magician and then reappearing two weeks later like “surprise, I was in London.”
- Tell teachers ahead of time — before the trip, not after
- Ask about tests or assignments that might fall near your break
- Do work before the trip if possible, not just after
- Stay organized so nothing gets lost while you’re gone
- Come back ready to catch up quickly — not expecting extensions
What the World Actually Teaches You
School is important — I’m not denying that. But travel teaches things that don’t fit in a textbook. In Mexico City, you learn about Frida Kahlo by standing in her actual house. In Rome, you see the Colosseum and the Roman Empire stops being something you memorize for a test and becomes something you actually understand. I studied the Renaissance in class right after I’d been to Rome. I recognized buildings, art, and names. It felt like I had extra information nobody else in the room had — because I did.
When I traveled as a teen, I was still shaping who I am. Adults are more set in their ways. Teens are more open. Travel becomes part of the foundation of who you’re becoming — not just something you did once for fun.
Planning, Packing, and Souvenirs
Balancing school and travel means planning early. I like to make a top ten list of places I want to go and why — it keeps things focused instead of overwhelming. The planet is a big place and having a list helps.
Packing is its own skill. You have to think about weather, culture, activities, and what you can realistically carry without struggling through an airport. If you’re looking for travel clothes without spending a lot, TJ Maxx and consignment sales are worth a look. Good deals, practical options.
Souvenirs are great until you realize you have to carry them. Before buying anything, I ask: will I actually use this? Will it survive the flight? Is this going to make my bag unmanageable? If the answer to any of those is no — I try to walk away. Usually. Sometimes. I’m still working on it.
Travel doesn’t make you special. What you learn from travel does. And here’s the part nobody really talks about: when you travel a lot, some people assume you’re bragging when you mention it. You’re not — you’re just sharing your life. The trick is to talk about your experiences without acting like they make you better than anyone else. They don’t. They just make you more curious. And curious is something worth being.
Spring, summer, fall, winter. Four windows every single year. The question is just what you do with them. School teaches you facts. Travel teaches you how to use them. Together, they make you someone who understands the world in a more complete way.
This is just what worked for us. You can choose to do what we did.