This fall break, Notre Dame students are scattering across the map - returning home, visiting friends or going on service projects.
One student returning home is junior Kevin Partington.
"I'll enjoy seeing my family, especially my three cats," he said.
Freshman Chris Stare is also going home.
"I'm looking to partying with my friends in Milwaukee and seeing my dog," he said.
Some students, instead of visiting family, are spending their break with friends at other schools.
"I'm going back to Kentucky to stay with friends at the University of Kentucky," freshman Ross Finney said. "I might see my family over the weekend. That'd be nice."
Several students will be going on seminars sponsored by the Center for Social Concerns (CSC), many of which send students to the Appalachian region.
Junior Michelle Perone will be leaving for Appalachia on Saturday morning. She's excited to be going with some of her friends.
"I've done a couple other trips with the CSC and they've been really amazing experiences," said Perone.
Sophomore Simone Bigi is attending as well.
"I saw the poster in my residence hall and it seemed like it would be fun," he said.
Freshman Greg Woods is also going to Appalachia.
"My group members and I are going to be teaching and tutoring at Sacred Heart grade school," Woods said. "I am going to enjoy spending time with the students and seeing their enormous smiles."
Besides going on the trip, the attendees are required to attend several classes given by the CSC.
"I like that the classes we've been attending in the weeks leading up to the trip have been making sure we understand the causes behind the area's poverty," Perone said. "This level of understanding adds a whole other dimension to actually doing service."
Sophomore Beth Nagel is also attending the Appalachia seminar.
"I am excited about meeting more Notre Dame students and becoming closer to those in my group," said sophomore Beth Nagel, who is also going to Appalachia.
Another seminar sponsored by the CSC over fall break is "Human Rights, Faithful Citizenship and Public Policy." Senior Christine Clark will be attending this seminar, which will be held in Washington, D.C.
"It's not a service project, per se, but a chance to learn about the intersection of human rights and public policy," Clark said.
Clark said she is going to enjoy exploring Washington and meeting new people on her trip.
Sophomore Katrina Corcoran will be attending the Cultural Diversity Seminar in Chicago, also sponsored by the CSC.
"I'm going to enjoy seeing Chicago from other people's point of view," Corcoran said. "I love to be immersed into something."
