Breaks

As I write this, I am sitting in the lobby of Light Fine Arts (commonly referred to as FAB – Fine Arts Building). The sun is shining through the huge mosaic of stained glass that looks out on the corner of Academy and Thompson. Across the way is the Library where I would usually be spending a Sunday afternoon, such as this, but I decided to go for a change of pace and I definitely lucked out, because the view is fantastic and the study space is tranquil.
 
The stillness of a Sunday afternoon always welcomes me back to K after a break. Whether it is a three-day weekend, a long winter break, spring break, or even summer – the Sunday before classes start is always one of my favorite times of the quarter. It is the time where we share hugs and stories with our best friends; we walk up and down Academy, across campus to visit those we have not seen in a while, or welcome those who are moving back in from being away on Study Abroad; we trod along the well worn sidewalks that will take us to Hicks and the cafeteria, or the library and Biggby Coffee; but above all, we soak in those few short hours we have of delightful bliss before resuming classes.
 

Our ten-week quarter is a jammed pack marathon of academia, social interactions, extra-curriculars, and numerous deadlines. When it is over, we breathe once more and find ourselves saying, “Wow! This quarter really flew by!” Before every break, there is the usual rapport of what people plan to do with their time away from homework and obligations. I usually say that I am going to sleep and in all honesty, that is exactly what I intend to do.

Finding a good series to read that does not tax my mind and snuggling up in my bed with a hot cup of tea was how I spent my winter break. Winter break was really long, but I enjoyed it all the same and by the end, I was definitely ready to come back to campus to start again. Spring break seemed to go so fast that I barely had time to recover from winter quarter and prepare for spring. It was beautiful in Michigan and I spent my time out doors – cleaning the garage, washing my car, getting a tan, and climbing the Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan. I visited a few friends from high school at their colleges and even found time to see a concert with my dad for his birthday. It was a whirlwind week and a half, but I enjoyed it immensely.

So now we are back on campus once again. The peaceful Sunday afternoons goad us out on to the quad for games of Frisbee Golf or catch or just to sit with friends and read a book on a picnic blanket. My motivation to finish my homework ebbs away as I look out the windows of FAB. Hopefully, I will finish my work and find some time to enjoy a nice walk before a new week begins and it’s back to the grind.

As I write this, I am sitting in the lobby of Light Fine Arts (commonly referred to as FAB – Fine Arts Building). The sun is shining through the huge mosaic of stained glass that looks out on the corner of Academy and Thompson. Across the way is the Library where I would usually be spending a Sunday afternoon, such as this, but I decided to go for a change of pace and I definitely lucked out, because the view is fantastic and the study space is tranquil.

The stillness of a Sunday afternoon always welcomes me back to K after a break. Whether it is a three-day weekend, a long winter break, spring break, or even summer – the Sunday before classes start is always one of my favorite times of the quarter. It is the time where we share hugs and stories with our best friends; we walk up and down Academy, across campus to visit those we have not seen in a while, or welcome those who are moving back in from being away on Study Abroad; we trod along the well worn sidewalks that will take us to Hicks and the cafeteria, or the library and Biggby Coffee; but above all, we soak in those few short hours we have of delightful bliss before resuming classes.

Our ten-week quarter is a jammed pack marathon of academia, social interactions, extra-curriculars, and numerous deadlines. When it is over, we breathe once more and find ourselves saying, “Wow! This quarter really flew by!” Before every break, there is the usual rapport of what people plan to do with their time away from homework and obligations. I usually say that I am going to sleep and in all honesty, that is exactly what I intend to do.

Finding a good series to read that does not tax my mind and snuggling up in my bed with a hot cup of tea was how I spent my winter break. Winter break was really long, but I enjoyed it all the same and by the end, I was definitely ready to come back to campus to start again. Spring break seemed to go so fast that I barely had time to recover from winter quarter and prepare for spring. It was beautiful in Michigan and I spent my time out doors – cleaning the garage, washing my car, getting a tan, and climbing the Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan. I visited a few friends from high school at their colleges and even found time to see a concert with my dad for his birthday. It was a whirlwind week and a half, but I enjoyed it immensely.

So now we are back on campus once again. The peaceful Sunday afternoons goad us out on to the quad for games of Frisbee Golf or catch or just to sit with friends and read a book on a picnic blanket. My motivation to finish my homework ebbs away as I look out the windows of FAB. Hopefully, I will finish my work and find some time to enjoy a nice walk before a new week begins and it’s back to the grind.