Oberlin Blogs

Spring? What is that?

March 21, 2013

Paris Achenbach ’13

So it's the first day of spring, and it's snowing in Oberlin. Wahoo! Happy vernal equinox y'all. I can't say I'm altogether surprised - March in the Midwest is perpetually disappointing, never sunny and warm-ish and bursting with flowers like you might hope it to be. Besides, this gloomy weather - for those of us who have way too much to do - is in our favor, right?! If it were beautiful outside, I'd have to run around in a sundress and play frisbee and ignore my mounds of midterms and job applications that are accumulating on my desk. Who needs that?!?

A study carrel with a student working

A two person study carrel with students working

The book "Despair" by Vladminir Nobokov

Students working in lounge chairs

Instead of playing in the warm, non-existent sunshine, we can read/sleep in a library carrel and drink too much espresso and fear the looming void called My Future Job. So this is a really positive situation, in case that wasn't clear. There was a hilarious blog post by Helena Thompson a couple years ago in which she laments springtime in five concise reasons, and does quite a good job of explaining just why spring is overrated. Favorite quote on Why Helena Hates Spring:

People have gotten over their Seasonal Depressive Disorders. All this sun and fun has made Oberlin students HAPPY again. What does this mean? Smiles. Lots of them. All of the time. I don't want to have to make the effort to smile at people that I pass on my way to class. Keep your head down and walk, Helena. You can do it.

So in the spirit of the snow, here are some photos of the Oberlin campus in the wintertime. Here's a secret: Oberlin can actually be gorgeous in the winter. Despite the stress and studiousness, I love Oberlin's campus in the snow.

Someone walking in the snow underneath bare trees

Snowy pine trees

A snowy J-house

A snow filled bike rack

A lawn with grass peeking through melting snow

A snowy walkway on Tappan square

A streetlamp lights up a snowstorm at night

p.s. A random student just came by and dropped this note on my table at Azariah's. I think they were assuming I was typing away frantically on an actual paper or take-home test, as opposed to a blog, but I appreciate the positive reinforcement nonetheless. Thank you magical stranger! I think we could all benefit from your words of wisdom....

Notebook paper with the writing: "sooooo, you're awesome. You've got this. You can friggin do this!!!!"

p.p.s. Also, THIS just happened. That's right. This campus is outta control. I need to stop while I'm ahead! Soon enough it will ACTUALLY be spring and everyone will have smiles this wide and I won't get any work done, I'll be too busy reveling in how much I love my friends and fellow students at this freakin' school.

Two students holding a sign that says "free hugs"
Enzo and Eliana with some of the biggest smiles on this campus. Thanks for the hugs you two!!