Just Sit
Once you hit October on a college campus, the most common phrase you hear in conversations is “midterm season,” normally accompanied with a sigh or an eye roll. By mid-October, the phrase is amended to “It’s always midterm season.” Perhaps it is good that professors don’t all put their exams in one “midterm week,” but it does sometimes seem like after the first three weeks, the midterm exams, papers, and tests are endless. When the stress hits, it is important to have a place to just sit, a place where you can relax and take a step back for awhile.
I asked some of my friends to share with me their favorite places on campus to “just sit,” and here were some of the highlights:
1) The Campus Center (CC) patio- The campus center is always a great place to sit if you want to run into people you know. Stocked with Hotung and the Commons Marketplace for hungry students, and a pool table and ping-pong for anyone looking for some fun, students are always going in and out, making it the perfect place to sit if you want to see some friendly faces.
2) The Sink - At our only entirely student-run coffee shop on campus, you can enjoy a fresh brew while sitting under cozy red-tinted lights. The ambiance here makes it a favorite sip and sit location.
3) The Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) second floor overlooking the ground floor - For our engineers, the SEC is a second home. Some even spend more time at the SEC than in their dorms, so it may even be their first home. But honestly, as a non-engineer, I totally see why. The SEC is modern and sleek, and with many students sitting there collaborating and talking, it has that kind of quiet buzz that is great for doing work or just relaxing.
4) The comfy chairs downstairs in Granoff near Lilly library - Many students don’t know that we actually have three libraries here on campus—Tisch library (the main library), Ginn library (the Fletcher School's library), and Lilly library (our music library). This spot is, perhaps, the most secret of all, but thanks to its prime location near the music practice rooms and ensemble spaces, it is the best place to just close one’s eyes and let the lovely strains of music flow over you.
5) The President's Lawn (Pres. Lawn) - Especially now that we are all consciously trying to be outside more to prevent the spread of Covid, pres. lawn (featured above) seems to be the new hot spot to eat, study, and nap under the beautiful fall foliage.
Where is my favorite place to just sit? Honestly, I don’t know. I feel like I always want to be productive and on-the-go, or if I do sit, I am talking with people, but from now on, I am going to try and find my own place. Sometimes, just sitting is important, it helps you de-stress and prepare for what's next. So my Emma’s Advice today is pointed at me too. When you get to college, find yourself a place where you can just sit. You don’t have to do work there or be surrounded by people. This space is just for you, your chair, and your thoughts. Just sit.