Imagine having the superpower to create an extra day–24 hours to spend any way you want. What would you do with the extra time? Would you take a leap and challenge yourself to try something new? Or do you dream of a day to yourself, a chance to stop running on the hamster wheel and just relax?

2024 is a Leap Year, with an extra day, Feb. 29, that doesn’t exist in normal years. As the Smithsonian explains, every four years, a calendar day is added in February to account for the 365.242190 days it actually takes the earth to orbit the sun and to prevent the seasons from shifting.

Time is a commodity that always seems in short supply, especially for college students. So how do we spend this day? Do we give in to the human urge to constantly spend our time in productive and exciting ways? Treat it as just another day blending into the year? Or indulge in relaxation, something college students tend to neglect?

“I think we all need time to relax,” said Moraine Valley student Arturo Saucedo. “Everyone’s just so caught up in what they have to do, school, work, whatever. So we all need a little time to kind of sit back and relax.”

Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of endless scrolling day in and day out, and time passes by in a blink, a tap and a scroll. In fact, some people aren’t even aware of Leap Day in the first place.

Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of endless scrolling day in and day out, and time passes by in a blink, a tap and a scroll.

“I’ve never noticed it in my life!” said Spiros Maroudas, a barista at the White Sheep cafe in the D building.

Others, like student Remington Adekola, focus on the logistics of the 29th day of February: “I think about if you’re born on Leap Day and if you should celebrate your birthday on the 28th or March first.”

Many people plan to spend Leap Day just participating in their usual routine. 

“I’ll probably spend some time doing homework,” Adekola said. “If not homework, playing video games. Might get an extra day of work in.”

Stephanie Zaragoza said she expects to be in rehearsal for Moraine Valley’s upcoming play The American Dream.

“I’ll probably be in rehearsal, but I do enjoy the extra day,” she said.

But when students ventured outside of their usual routine into more creative wishes, their hopes for the superpower of extra time centered around spending time socializing with those who matter to them.

“[I would] hang out with my son. I have a 9-year-old,” said 28-year-old early education major Alex Avila.

Zaragoza allowed herself a moment to daydream: “I’d probably go hang out with friends and go to the park, it’s getting pretty warm so I might have a picnic or something.”

Business major Alia Rivera, 19, initially said, “I feel like I’d waste my time,” but upon reflection, saw potential for a creative idea. “I’m like a youth leader outside and possibly planning like a trampoline day. So Leap Day, Jump Day.”

“Prioritize, put all the little things to the side, and just focus on the big picture, what matters the most.”

Moraine Valley Student Arturo Saucedo

Even on the other 365 days of this year, it is important to harness the power of time management and spend that time positively.

“Prioritize, put all the little things to the side, and just focus on the big picture, what matters the most,“ Saucedo said.

Adekola explains his strategy for maintaining this balance: “I would say creating a schedule. I love hanging out with my friends so much, I’ll end up staying with them way longer. So be realistic on ‘I’m going to spend this much time with my friends and this much time doing homework’ so you can find that balance.”

The added time this year gives us time for reflection and appreciation, and for many students, this power unlocks a world of possibilities. 

“It’s nice to have an extra day in the year,” said Adekola. 

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JRN 111 (Media Writing) students Ryan Anderson, Curtis Baker, Sammy Ramirez, Logan Sellers and Samaa Yousef contributed to this report.