Coming back to FSU for my sophomore year, I’ve felt lost about what to do in my free time. As a freshman, everything was new and exciting, and it felt like just by leaving my dorm I’d stumble upon a fun first-time experience to partake in. This year, I’m determined to find activities I missed out on during my freshman year and go on new adventures to beat the sophomore slump.
- International Coffee Hour
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FSU’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE) hosts an International Coffee Hour every Friday from 5-6:30 p.m. Different foods are served each week from places all around the world, with some recent examples being portokalopita, red bean cake, and samosas. CGE also co-hosts each coffee hour with a different student organization, bringing attention to the group and highlighting its campus activity.
International Coffee Hour first came to my attention freshman year, and it immediately sounded right up my alley. I’ve never said no to tasty snacks once in my life, and I love the opportunity to try foods I’ve never been exposed to before. International food gives you a chance to experience and appreciate different world cultures, while having an amazing bonding experience trying it with your fellow FSU students!
I also love learning about different student organizations that might have previously flown under my radar, and you will definitely catch me at the Globe on Fridays this semester!
- Hiking
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Turns out touching grass does improve your mental health. I was lucky enough to be able to do a lot of hiking over the summer, and I absolutely fell in love with it. Not only is it a great form of exercise, but it’s so rewarding to see gorgeous views throughout your hike and have a momentary disconnect from the internet and your troubles.
This semester I hope to continue hiking, and luckily for me, the Tallahassee area has a lot of amazing hikes. Some local favorites are the Lafayette Heritage Trail and the Apalachicola National Forest. A great way to build a hiking community is to join the FSU Hiking Club, which does weekly hikes throughout the semester. I’ll definitely be venturing out on some of the hikes to explore new areas and maintain good mental health as the semester ramps up!
- Line Dancing
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It’s time to live your Footloose dreams! I’ve wanted to go line dancing ever since I was in a high school production of Footloose and became captivated by the idea of dancing the night away in my cowboy boots with music blaring. However, going line dancing for the first time can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know any of the dances.
All that being said, this is going to be the semester when I’m going to get out there and dance! Every Friday, the Moon holds their “Stetsons on the Moon” line dancing event, which offers line dancing lessons for an hour before the event begins so beginners like me can begin to catch on.
There’s also plenty of line dancing to do without leaving campus, like with the FSU club, the Dosie Doe’s! They offer plenty of line dancing lessons and events throughout the entire semester, right on our own campus. Soon we’ll all be dancing like Kevin Bacon!
- North Florida Fair
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I got so much FOMO seeing everyone’s Instagram posts last year from the carnival, and it looks like a scene straight out of a teen TV show. The North Florida Fair runs from Nov. 5 to 15 and is essentially exactly what you’d imagine when you hear the word “fair.”
There’s a plethora of carnival rides, food, live entertainment, and even livestock shows. A corndog and fried Oreos are genuinely a gourmet meal in my opinion, so I’ll be living out my main character dreams this November at the Carnival.
- FSU Lakefront Park
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Formally known as “The Rez,” FSU’s Lakefront Park is one of the most underutilized parts of campus, and I consistently forget that it’s there. The Lakefront Park is the perfect afternoon or weekend activity to get outside and appreciate the moments when we have good Florida weather.
Hit the lake by going kayaking or canoeing, or check out one of their events like Food Truck Fridays or S’mores-making events. Lakefront Park even has a ropes course, which I need to check out this semester! I’ll definitely be getting on the water and kayaking this semester when I need an escape from the heat and to row away my worries.
I can’t wait to try all these activities this year, and I hope this has provided some inspiration!
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