I think it’s because of the lack of windows. I will sit in Evans for four straight hours in the evening, walk outside and wonder where the sun went. Last semester as a wide-eyed freshman (I guess I still am a wide-eyed freshman), a sophomore from my math class asked me where I like to study on campus. I’m pretty sure I told her Zachry or the MSC or maybe both. She looked at me and told me I have to try studying at Evans, especially the quiet floors. I thought to myself sure, maybe I’ll give it a go. It took me about six months to make my way down here, and I have to say she was absolutely correct.
The thing about Zachry that drew me to it was the fact that it’s a new, very beautifully designed building that screams Engineering, and so of course I was drawn to all the flashiness. It didn’t take me long to realize that Zach is always packed. Who would have thought the pretty building was going to be so popular. On top of the high volume of students in that building, there really are not many good places to just sit down and study. The rooms at Zach are amazing and wonderful, but trying to get a reservation for one is not my favorite thing to do as a spontaneous study-er. That meant I was often left with sitting on a random seat and developing back issues and also having no space to place my notebooks, calculators, and all the other junk I was holding. The same thing applies to the MSC; it is generally always busy, and there aren’t a lot of desk options.
One day, I decided to go to Evans, but I was craving an iced white mocha at 9:30 pm. Drinking caffeine this late might have been a mistake, but I was so in my zone working on a tough assignment, I didn’t realize it was already 2 am until the security guard came around to tell everyone the building was about to close. I was so surprised I was able to make it for that long because it really felt like I had just sat down. This was the start of my realization that I had been missing out on one of the best study spots on campus all semester long.
I am proud to say that I am now a frequent Evans visitor. The best part about Evans is that if I need a break on whatever I’m working on, I can pull a book from behind me and take a moment to relax. This building is also so much bigger than I realized it is. I definitely have gotten lost here a few times, but it’s honestly a great thing because there is always desk space to sit down at, focus, and study. I love Evans, and I love the girl from my math class for putting me on.