I’m currently writing this piece while I’m on a flight from Dallas to Cleveland. Spring break has come to an end, but I’m excited to end the rest of the semester on a high note.
It feels a little surreal, but the break is already over. It feels like I just got here, and I already have to leave. Yeah, it’s not the most ideal situation, but there are positives to it. I got to spend some quality time with family and friends back in Texas, which is always a nice experience for me. Also, the weather was a million times better in Texas than it is in Ohio. It was sunny every single day, y’all. In comparison to Ohio, I was living in paradise for the week. Not to say that Ohio isn’t beautiful or anything. The weather has just been... dreadful. That’s one of the only downsides to the natural side of Oberlin. It gets quite dim during the wintertime there. The sun is seemingly hiding from Obies for weeks at a time. Because of this, it can seem a little miserable in Oberlin. Fortunately, the people I associate myself with at Oberlin make it a lot better. Professors, friends, and even random strangers make Oberlin worthwhile. While I slightly missed the Obie experience over break, I embraced the wonderful Texas spring weather. The temperature ranged from sixty to seventy degrees for the entire week! Every time I walked outside, I actually enjoyed the breeze. I couldn’t do that in Ohio! The wind would literally take my breath away. I’m blessed to be able to go home for spring break in the first place, so I’m very grateful for that.
Spring Break was over for me when I had to wake up at five in the morning to catch a flight back to Oberlin.
I spent my break in Texas and had a wonderful and refreshing time with family and friends. However, that time came to an abrupt end as my alarm rang into my ears at five in the morning. “Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do...” Shush, please! Make the ringing stop! I wanted a little more time back home because 1) It’s always more comfortable at home for me and 2) Sleep deprivation is never the move, especially when you have a three-hour flight ahead of you. That’s what happens when you go to school to a far and out-of-state college. I knew I had to spend my spring break back home. I needed a little time in Texas so that I could embrace my loved ones for a while. With that time, there are sacrifices that had to be made. One of those sacrifices was choosing an early Saturday morning flight back home from spring break. The prices can be tricky from time to time, but the time spent back home was well worth it.
With that being said, morning flights aren't all completely bad.
There is surprisingly one positive thing about morning flights, and it’s the fact that the sunrises are usually very beautiful. If you get lucky and get a window seat like I did, you’ll get a lovely view of what Mother Nature has to offer. There are so many shades of reds, oranges, and yellows to see. I would provide a photo for you to see for yourself, but I was so awestruck by the view that I forgot to take a photo. Call me old-fashioned, but I really enjoyed that experience without being distracted by my phone. That gorgeous view was worth waking up early for. It was worth walking through TSA and dealing with the occasional “pat downs.” I enjoyed that view for about an hour before I dozed off. When I woke up, I was looking over Lake Erie. That’s when it hit me. I have one more month (and a few weeks) until I become a senior at Oberlin College. That’s... that’s just crazy.
I still can’t believe that I have been at Oberlin for this long.
I understand that the rest of the semester is entirely in my hands now. What does that mean? Well, I only have one “real” final exam. The rest of my finals are papers that cover topics that I’m already interested in. I look forward to what the rest of the semester holds for me, because Oberlin really can be an enjoyable place to be, especially during the spring. The place is filled with color that replaces the ugly grey skies of winter. The flowers are blooming, the weather is warmer, and the people seem happier. It’s definitely a different (and better) vibe than any other time of the year. In fact, springtime in Oberlin is one of my favorite times to be there. Summer is slowly approaching, which definitely increases the excitement in the air. Obieland really displays its beauty when the flowers are blooming. The beauty isn’t even limited to how Oberlin looks. It applies to how it feels. Oberlin feels more beautiful when you’re walking from the science center to Mudd library and it’s sixty degrees outside. It’s more beautiful when you can chill outside with your friends without worrying about freezing to death. For those who have been to Oberlin during the spring, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
Well, those are some of my thoughts as I fly back to Obieland.
I’m so excited to see where I am in a little over a month. April and May usually fly by, but we will see what happens this time around. 2019 has been a rollercoaster so far, and I’m sure that it’s only just the beginning. Hopefully, success will continue to follow me and my fellow Obies into the spring. I wish nothing but blessings and success to whoever is reading this. Springtime is here and this semester is almost over! We got this!
