Lets Go to Vegas
October 19th, 2026
Writer: Nicolina Kane
Editor: Sophia Wohl
Fall break has a way of becoming something college kids spend weeks looking forward to; between exams, assignments and busy schedules, a few days away can be exactly what we need. Whether you’re a freshman heading home for the first time since moving in, or a senior planning a trip with friends, there’s excitement in having somewhere to go, and time to spend outside your usual routine. This year, for me, that somewhere is Vegas.
A college trip to Vegas comes with a familiar set of expectations: obviously we have the perfect outfits, the perfect pictures, the best dinner reservations, and maybe promoter table service. Before you even pack, the group chat fills with outfit links, screenshots, flights, and plans. It’s fun to imagine it all, but it’s also easy to start feeling like every moment needs to live up to the version of the trip you’ve already pictured.
That pressure isn’t limited to just Vegas. Fall break can feel like a competition over who is going where, the biggest plans, and who comes back with the best pictures. Scrolling through everyone’s posts, even a break you were happy about can suddenly feel less interesting. A weekend at home starts to seem too quiet, or a trip with friends feels incomplete because you couldn’t get that one reservation.
I love getting dressed up and taking pictures with my friends. Those things are all part of the fun. But I don’t want a bad angle or a change of plans to become the thing I remember the most. There’s something frustrating about being surrounded by people you love while everyone checks whether the picture is good enough to post to their story. Sometimes we get so focused on showing that we’re having fun that we forget to enjoy what’s actually happening.
When I think about going to Las Vegas, I’m most excited for the time in between the plans. Getting ready together, laughing over something ridiculous that happened, finding a new food place to try when everyone is hungry, or just talking without someone needing to rush off to class. A dinner reservation gives us somewhere to sit, sure, but the conversation is what makes the dinner worth remembering. Some of the best parts of a trip happen when nobody has planned them. That's what we often forget.
For plenty, fall break means going home.. that can be comforting: your own bed, familiar food, family, and a few days away from campus to reset. It can also feel weird. At school, you’ve built routines and learned to make decisions on your own. Then you walk through your front door and find yourself slipping into the habits you’ve had before college. You’re still part of home, even as your life keeps growing somewhere else.
Going back to school can be just as strange. You might miss home while you’re on campus vice versa. It takes time to switch between those two parts of your life, especially when the break is short. Feeling pulled toward both places doesn’t mean that you’re doing anything wrong. It means there are people and pieces of your life you care about in each.
As a senior, I’m starting to notice how much I’ll miss having my friends so close, but you don’t have to be graduating to appreciate a few days together. Whatever year you’re in, fall break is a chance to catch your breath and give people more of your attention than a busy school week usually allows.
So, let’s go to Vegas. Let’s wear the outfits, take the pictures, and get excited about the plans. But let’s also leave room for a night that turns out differently than we expected. Whether your break takes you to a day club, your simple hometown, or a friend’s couch, I hope you come back with a moment you enjoyed so much that you forgot to even check your canvas.
