Courtesy of Madina Sotvoldieva

As students flocked away from campus this winter break, some students stayed on campus for a variety of reasons, whether it was for athletic commitments or because they lived too far away to travel home.

Saron Workineh ’28, an international student from Ethiopia, spent her first winter break on campus. Workineh decided to stay due to travel restrictions but decided to make the most of the time by beginning her summer internship search early.

Workineh stayed on campus this past summer to conduct research with a professor, which prepared her for adjusting to the quieter environment. However, this break, she found herself with more free time.

“Doing something similar for my junior winter break would be good, like doing an internship or research to fill my time,” Workineh said.

Workineh also made sure to fill her time with activities outside of academics, including a visit to  a local martial arts gym.

“I tried it,” Workineh said. “I didn’t go back, but it was all right. It was cool.”

Beyond giving martial arts a try, she attended a movie night series hosted by Professor of Cinema Studies Tricia Welsch intended to foster connections for those still on campus.

For similar reasons, Madina Sotvoldieva ’28, an international student from Uzbekistan, also remained on campus during winter break, describing the experience as peaceful and unexpectedly social.

“I live in MacMillan House,” Sotvoldieva said. “I was the only one in the house for a very long time, which was kind of cool.”

Sotvoldieva said her time on campus gave her the opportunity to explore nearby towns in Maine she usually does not have time to visit during the semester.

“Staying on campus over a break is super fun,” Sotvoldieva said. “You finally have time to explore Brunswick, Portland and Freeport. When classes are going, I never really have time to do that.”

Students receiving financial aid were provided stipends for food while dining halls were closed for a portion of the break, allowing many to explore off-campus dining options.

During the break, Sotvoldieva and her friends sampled various establishments in Freeport.

“My friends and I went to different cafes, the flea market and Freeport bakeries,” Sotvoldieva  said. “It was very cute.”

She also emphasized the sense of community that formed among students who stayed behind.

“There’s a small group of people staying, and they might not necessarily be your friends at first,” Sotvoldieva said. “But because it’s such a small community, you start hanging out together and exploring things together.”

She also hosted movie nights and a New Year’s Eve potluck in MacMillan House to strengthen bonds with others on campus.

“I hosted a lot of movie nights at Mac[Millan], and everybody was really free, so people were always down to do whatever,” Sotvoldieva said. “For New Year’s Eve, I hosted a potluck … a lot of people showed up and brought food.”

Sotvoldieva also credited winter break residential advisors for organizing activities.

“Winter break RAs were super fun,” she said. “One of the RAs took [international students] rock wall climbing.”

Overall, Sotvoldieva described the experience as a balance of rest and activity.

Along with others involved with winter sports teams, Raam Melvani ’27 returned to campus on January 2 to serve as a manager for the squash team, arriving early to support practices and matches during winter break. This season marked Melvani’s first year working with the team, giving him the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the program by playing a key role in the team’s media presence, managing social media and photographing matches.

The squash team competed in seven matches over the break, including four home matches and three on the road, all of which Melvani attended.

In addition to his responsibilities with squash, Melvani worked several jobs on campus, which allowed him to stay busy while enjoying a period with fewer academic demands. While Melvani spent most of his time with the squash team, working basketball games and dining hall shifts allowed him to connect with the other students on campus.

“It was nice to be here for a couple of weeks without a ton of schoolwork,” Melvani said.

Outside of work and competition, winter break provided space for team bonding. Melvani said the men’s and women’s squash teams spent much of their free time together, engaging in annual traditions, including a cooking challenge between the two teams.

“You’re with them at breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said. “You really get close to the group.”

The team also spent time watching movies, following the NFL playoffs and hosting board game nights. With approximately 30 athletes across the men’s and women’s teams, the tight-knit nature of the teams stood out as a defining part of his winter break experience.