A couple of months ago, I was sure that my busy schedule and slim wallet would keep me in Madison for spring break. As the semester wore on and friends spoke of exciting and affordable vacation options, I decided to adjust my schedule and save up money.

On Saturday, March 16, nine of my friends and I piled into two cars and trekked south in search of sunshine, to the island of Cape Lookout, North Carolina. After an 18-hour trip to the coast, we boarded a ferry that took us to the island and discovered that the sunshine we had come for was nowhere to be found. Instead, Cape Lookout provided copious amounts of rain, wind and 40-degree temperatures.

While the weather drenched our clothes and left sand in places it should not, it did not dampen our spirits. Our group managed to create our own fun on the beach for the night, but by Monday, we were back on the mainland in a laundromat in Moorhead City, North Carolina, looking up hotels and places with warmer weather. We decided to spend the next day traveling west, toward the Smokey Mountains. After spending two nights in hotels and one day on the road, we made it to our campsite in Cades Cove in Smokey Mountain National Park and finally found the sunshine we craved. We spent two days in the mountains, hiking during the day and telling stories and singing songs by the fire at night. It was the most perfect cap to a spectacular trip.

Traveling and problem-solving with this group of amazingly optimistic and adventurous people was hugely inspiring and motivating for me. Whether we were setting up a tent in the pouring rain or hiking steep terrain, we were always laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company. On top of that, it was marvelously refreshing to feel the absence of first-world problems, since providing basic food, water and shelter took up much of our effort.

Whether you lounged in Madison, helped others on a service trip or partied on the beaches of Panama City, I hope that this restful week has left you as rejuvenated and motivated as mine did. Now as we start up the second half of the semester, we have the ability to take our recharged brains and bodies to new heights and finish this year with stirring enthusiasm.