I love the fall. I love the way the air smells when you step outside at night. I love the way the leaves change from red to orange to yellow and decorate the earth for several weeks. I love pulling out the sweaters and the scarves to combat the cooler temperatures. I even love Fall Quarter.
During Fall Quarter, everyone usually is excited to be back to start anew after summer. We only have to endure 10 weeks of classes before our brains get to relax for six. We celebrate Homecoming and the much-anticipated Halloween. There is so much going on that time flies.
And this quarter is no exception. Homecoming has come and gone and the Halloween weekend is upon us.
The one thing that is different about this quarter, though, is that no one seems to have time to breathe anymore. Everyone is immersed in working on projects, studying for exams and making it to meetings on time. In each of my classes, I witness another individual looking at his or her daily planner, shaking his or her head and asking how he or she is going to get it all done by deadline. When I pass a friend on the street, say hello and inquire about their day, the given response is almost always the same: Busy.
I know some of the stress we are experiencing is to be expected - such is life. We're all growing up and we have to learn to juggle more and more on our plates at one time. But sometimes I think we get so caught up in getting everything done, that we lose sight of the big picture because our time is devoted to worrying about all the little things.
We get so wrapped up in cramming for a test or finishing a lab assignment that all we can focus on is the completion of the task at hand. I don't think we stop to think about all the information we are absorbing. I don't think we realize that while it's nice to receive a good grade, in the grand scheme of life, grade point average really isn't all that important.
But we continue to rush around and stress ourselves out, especially this week, in hopes to get stuff done so we can kick back and enjoy this very welcomed yet highly overrated weekend.
I know people have had added stress this week worrying about what creative costume to wear to the Uptown pandemonium or when their guests are arriving and where they can safely park their cars, but most people are ready for the big Halloween bash.
This weekend will provide relief for many from their hectic schedules. Some of us will have the opportunity to entertain guests and see friends we haven't seen in a while. Instead of cramming for that French final, we can cram our way through the masses on Court Street. We can all head Uptown in our costumes and have fun pretending to be what we're not. We can get lost in the chaos of the night, and not have to worry about anything except how to avoid getting arrested and how to make it home safely.
And while thousands flock to be part of the party, others will do everything they can to steer clear of all the drunken ghosts and goblins and Catholic schoolgirls. Some of us who have seen the crazy antics of the crowd will choose to spend Saturday night in a different way. After all, it's not always fun being squashed against strangers as you try to fight your way down the street. It's not always fun to be lifted off the ground because so many people are pushing and pulling in all directions. There are as many cops on the streets as actual Ohio University students because all of the out-of-towners have to be kept under control. Usually Halloween weekend is so cold that you are shivering in your costume and ready to get home to get warm before the night really begins (although the temperature is supposed to be much warmer this weekend).
But no matter how you choose to spend your Halloween, just remember to have a good time. And try not to smash any pumpkins, beat up little kids for their candy or get thrown into the drunk tank.
- Have a fun and happy Halloween and send Kimberly an email at kh307401@ohiou.edu.
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Kimberly Hanigosky
