Fall is the season that has become synonymous with "back to school," cooler temperatures, and change. As the last leaf falls from its tree and we begin to embrace the sheer cold of winter, we are forced to leave a lot behind: any temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, pumpkin flavored items and the breathtaking autumn landscapes. The crisp air will be replaced with chilling winds and the autumn leaves will be replaced with snow covered branches.

I will undoubtedly miss fall’s general atmosphere the most. We won’t see so many colors in nature until spring flowers begin to bloom, and the crisp cool air will only become colder. Fall as a season seems to pass all too quickly. As we jump back into the busyness of academics, fall begins, and it is often overshadowed by the stress that school creates. The months of September to December contain major holidays including the beloved Halloween and Thanksgiving. These holidays seem to have such short seasons compared to the dominating Christmas holiday season. Stores everywhere seem to practically skip over Thanksgiving when it comes to merchandising. Fall just seems so short-lived, even though it’s filled with events and adventure.

Spring gets labeled as the season of rebirth, and in fall everything seems to wither away. The way I see it, fall is not a month of death, but a month of liveliness. Nature is bustling with wildlife preparing for winter, and campuses everywhere are teeming with active college students.

In a way, fall serves as a metaphor for the lives of students. As fall serves as a transition for summer to winter, we as students make a huge transition. After summer ends we are thrown back into the college world, and many of us face new challenges and experiences. Just as the leaves change color, we change as people during this season. Change and liveliness should be how fall is remembered.

The best way to leave these things behind is to look forward to the beauty of winter. Focusing on the cozy fires, hot chocolate and snow days will soften the blow of leaving fall behind. Winter’s emptiness is so serene and blissful. The fields of snow, and nights by the fire never seem to get old. Winter gives people an excuse to stay indoors and play video games or watch Netflix. Winter brings back memories of holidays long ago, and being together with family. I will continue to enjoy apple cider, watching football, and time with my family into the winter months. I will continue to wear a lot of my fall clothes and pumpkin flavoring to me is never really out of season.