Every year, as soon as September rolls around, social media starts convincing us that fall is the best season. Suddenly, my TikTok and Pinterest feeds are filled with cozy sweaters, pumpkin patches, perfectly decorated apartments, and people drinking iced coffee while walking through colorful leaves.
And honestly, I fall for it every single year.
Don’t get me wrong, I love fall. There’s something about the changing leaves, cooler weather, and Halloween approaching that makes this time of year exciting. But as a college student, I’ve started to realize that the fall we see online and the fall we actually experience are two very different things.
The Pinterest Version of Fall
If you spend even five minutes scrolling through Pinterest in October, you’ll probably come across someone’s perfectly curated fall aesthetic. Their room is decorated, they’re wearing a cute outfit, and somehow, they have time to bake pumpkin bread while watching Gilmore Girls.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how I’m supposed to finish eight assignments, study for an exam, and still have time to do anything remotely fun.
Social media makes fall look like a season filled with relaxing activities, but it leaves out the less aesthetic parts, like walking to class in the rain or spending an entire Sunday catching up on schoolwork.
I love the idea of having a perfect fall day, but sometimes the most exciting thing I do is finally finish an assignment I’ve been putting off.
Fall Weather Has an Identity Crisis
One of the biggest reasons I look forward to fall is the weather. After months of summer heat, I’m ready to wear sweaters and jackets without feeling like I’m melting.
The problem is that fall weather never seems to cooperate.
One day, it’s cold enough for a winter coat, and the next, I’m sweating while walking to class in a sweatshirt. Getting dressed in the morning becomes a guessing game, especially when the temperature changes completely by the afternoon.
And let’s not forget the rain. Nothing ruins the excitement of a cute fall outfit faster than walking across campus in wet shoes.
October Is Not as Relaxing as It Looks
Another thing nobody mentions in those fall aesthetic videos is how busy October actually is.
By this point in the semester, the excitement of being back at school has worn off. Midterms are approaching, assignments are piling up, and it feels like every professor has decided to schedule something important during the same week.
At the same time, there are so many things you want to do. Apple picking, pumpkin carving, haunted houses, and Halloween plans all sound fun until you realize you have about five different deadlines coming up.
It almost feels like there’s pressure to make the most of fall before it’s over, even when you barely have time to get through your regular schedule.
Why Does It Get Dark So Early?
There’s also the part of fall that nobody seems particularly excited about: the days getting shorter.
At the beginning of the semester, there’s still plenty of daylight after classes. But as fall goes on, it starts getting darker earlier, and suddenly it feels like the entire day is over before you’ve accomplished anything.
Nothing makes me want to abandon my responsibilities faster than looking outside and seeing that it’s already dark when I still have hours of homework left.
It’s hard to feel productive when the weather is cold, the sun is disappearing, and your bed looks more appealing than anything else.
But I Still Love It Anyway
Despite all of this, fall is still one of my favorite times of year.
Even though it isn’t always as relaxing or aesthetically pleasing as social media makes it seem, there are still little things that make the season enjoyable. Seeing the leaves change around campus, getting to wear my favorite sweaters, and having Halloween to look forward to are all things I genuinely love.
Maybe the problem isn’t fall itself, but the expectation that every day needs to look like something straight off Pinterest.
Not every fall day needs to involve a pumpkin patch, a perfectly planned outfit, or a cozy movie night. Sometimes it’s just going to class, getting coffee with a friend, and trying to survive midterms.
And honestly, that’s fine too.
Fall might be better in theory than in reality, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be looking forward to it again next year.