As cliché as it sounds, spring at Wake Forest is when college starts to become the way you imagined, or more appropriately, dreamed it to be when you were younger or applying via the Common App. People are sitting outside, laughing, playing catch (I know crazy, but I swear this actually happens in real life), and finding any excuse to stay in the sun a little longer. The quad is full, the walk to Reynolda feels necessary every day, and even doing work becomes more appealing because it can be done outside the library. To put it simply, everyone is clearly ten times happier. It’s all the little moments like this that make spring in the Forest feel like the brochure you were handed on your tour come to life. The best part of all of this is that it’s not about anything huge or life-changing. It’s the small moments that make spring here so special.
- Stop Studying Inside for Once
If you’re reading this in your dorm room, get up, find a bench, table, or any other outside space (I don’t care), and soak up the sun. What’s the harm in that? Some of my favorite, most memorable afternoons here are the ones when my friends and I decide to sit outside our dorm, find a table in the courtyard, open up our laptops, share snacks, and try to complete our assignments. What feels like a miserable assignment in the winter becomes slightly more manageable in the spring simply because you don’t have to complete it locked up in a ZSR study room. Somehow, work feels so much less painful when you’re outside. Well, I guess not, somehow, getting sunlight literally improves your mood. Take advantage of the free dopamine!
- Romanticize the Walk to Reynolda Village
At this point, a walk into Reynolda is basically mandatory. It feels wrong NOT to do. It becomes so special in the nicer weather, because it’s no longer about finding a destination. Yes, grabbing something from Dough-Joe’s and Theodores is always worth it, but the best part of the walk is slowing down enough to actually enjoy the weather. Take time to stroll through the garden, photograph the blooming flowers, and pet the insane amount of ridiculously cute dogs that have taken over the walkways. How lucky are we to have a direct path into a quaint village that feels like stepping foot into the set of Gilmore Girls? Use it!
- Actually use the Quad
This is the season to stop treating the quad like just a shortcut. It’s there for a reason! As crazy as this might sound, lie in the grass, bring food, play catch, listen to music, and pretend to do work with your friends. These moments are the times that make Wake feel exactly like the college experience everyone dreams of. Yes, I know, the Wait Chapel bells that go off every hour at a ridiculously loud volume can be slightly annoying, but hey, at least you’re not shivering, bundled up with three layers. Instead, you’re getting a tan on the quad!
- Make Time in Your Day for the Fire Pits
If you take one thing away from this article, make it this. The fire pits are one of my favorite parts of spring at Wake because they fit into any part of the day. Sometimes it’s grabbing Benson and sitting there with friends for lunch. Maybe it’s just staying for five minutes before running to class because the weather is too nice not to stop and soak it in (and get a tan). It’s one of those places where you always end up running into the people you’ve been meaning to text to grab lunch with. Somehow, every time I’m here, a random stop turns into sitting way longer than I planned. It’s such a small part of campus, but in the spring, it somehow becomes one of those spots that easily makes your whole day better.
- Slow Down on the Walk to Class
The most mundane part of your routine in the winter becomes one of the most beautiful parts of the day in spring. Without the freezing weather, walking to class becomes such a simple joy in the day. You actually notice the big, beautiful trees, the colorful tulips that have started popping up out of nowhere, and how good the campus looks when everything turns green again. And yes, the pollen is brutal. Your car will be neon yellow, and your sinuses will be fighting for their lives, but thankfully, allergy medicine exists, which feels like a small trade-off for experiencing campus at this perfect time of year.
At the end of the day, the best spring in the Forest isn’t about doing anything huge to change up your entire routine. Instead, it’s about taking advantage of the little things that make Wake feel like a picture-perfect movie.