There is something different about fall semester every time it comes around. It’s not just the crisp smell of autumnal leaves or the way the world turns golden. As the world around me changes, I notice things about myself that change with it. Fall is a time of shifting, the beginning of new eras of exploration and a shared sense of community.
With fall, it almost feels like we get to experience three seasons, something that automatically differs from the sporadic, but cooler weather of spring. I feel that before I ease into fall, summer and the relaxing feeling of rest motivates me to start fresh. As the rush of the semester comes along, I notice that once I start to feel a level of stress, the fall atmosphere changes and the air cools, reminding me that those feelings are temporary. Not to mention, I am a lover of the atmosphere that comes with dark academia, the nights spent in glowing, wooden libraries and walks in foggy mornings where the day ahead feels cozier. By the time finals hit, the world shifts again into a wintry environment. So, while I feel the weight of the semester, I also feel a renewed sense of purpose and hope at the thought of the final stretch.
Fall is also a time where multiple celebrations happen across cultures. This creates a sense of soft joy and reflection that ties to identity and community in a way that feels less tangible during other parts of the year. There are a multitude of traditions and holidays that bring people together, including but not limited to, Diwali, Mid-Autumn Festival, Día de Los Muertos and Halloween. These holidays celebrate life through different experiences, spread love among friends and family and explore death or passage as a part of life. I feel a sense of reflective gratitude to live in a world where we get to experience such rich community-centered celebrations of different kinds of life experiences.
All of these things bring me a sense of happiness and motivation. I not only feel like I am changing (by entering a new grade level, taking new classes, and trying new things) but that I am also somehow closer to those around me. Even through the more challenging moments that come with burnout or stress, there are multiple moments that remind me why I do what I do. During this time, I also am able to process the changes I am going through in my own life. While summer is a wonderful time of decompression, fall feels like a reset, a moment where I can reflect more intimately in an environment that changes with me and feels comforting, nostalgic and hopeful.