Table for One is my attempt to enjoy my own company. Transitioning from high school to college pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I got used to doing things alone. Since meeting my friends, I’ve become reliant on the company, missing out on opportunities just because I’ll be alone. Through this column, I’ll be branching out, taking myself on solo dates around Tallahassee to enjoy this beautiful city, giving recommendations and tips along the way.
To branch out more, I recently went on a life-changing adventure: a walk around FSU’s campus.
I understand this is a pretty typical activity for students; however, I typically get upwards of 10,000 steps just walking from class to class, so I’m not usually in the mood for a walk. Coming back from spring break, I felt cooped up in my apartment, so I decided to take some time to explore campus.
my route
My first stop was the Student Union for lunch. I ordered a sandwich (and a cookie, of course) from Panera Bread to fuel me for my journey. You can’t go to Panera and not get a Kitchen Sink Cookie.
Next, I headed past a riveting baseball game at Dick Howser Stadium to do a lap around Doak Campbell Stadium. I typically see girls doing laps in their adorable workout sets in the morning, so I figured I’d give it a try. I got to see sides of the stadium I never could’ve imagined. As I passed statue after statue, my school pride grew.
After a lap, I headed away from the Stadium toward Westcott. I spend most of my days over by the biology building, so getting to enjoy the humanities side of campus was a nice change. Passing the stained glass of Dodd Hall and the quiet Mina Jo Powell Green reinforced my love for the older half of FSU.
I timed my walk perfectly to catch the azaleas mid-bloom, which made it that much better. I, of course, ended my walk at Publix to reward myself with dinner and an Arizona Iced Tea. This spontaneous route felt enjoyable and just the perfect length. It got me to almost exactly 10,000 steps, meaning it was fulfilling without being too long.
What i listened to
Anyone who’s ever gone on a walk knows that the playlist can make or break it. I listened to a mix of songs on this walk, matching the vibe for each part of my walk. At the beginning, the album songs by Adrianne Lenker had me feeling at peace.
This album feels very “spring” to me, filled with melancholy and soft vocals. As my walk went on, I needed an energy boost, so I put on Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. Bad Bunny’s music sounds like the first days of summer with a UV-of-nine feel. This is exactly what I needed to power through the end of my walk and get to Publix, where my decadent dinner awaited me.
tips for this solo date
I’d recommend checking the weather before you leave! I got lucky with a beautiful day, but as we creep into summer, it can start to get unbearably hot. I’d also recommend eating a good meal beforehand. Even with my filling Panera sandwich, I was still hungry by the end.
We’re so lucky to enjoy this beautiful campus every day. It’s easy to take advantage of it; spend some time outside today to appreciate our wonderful school.
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