As we shove our winter clothes to the bottom of our closets, and we begin to count down the days for spring weekend, we become completely restless. Call it a temporary case of ADD, or a lack of studiousness for that matter — let’s face it, once the trees in Wriston begin to bloom no one wants to hit the books. We like to think of this as the spring semester syndrome, or a sudden change in mood that makes everything in life seem better. Partying seems more fun, new activities (like baking for those who lack domestic skills) sound adventurous, and mundane tasks like eating and walking are all the more delightful. Why wouldn’t they? Now that the sun is out, we are intoxicated by the bliss of a new season, by the prospect of summer and holidays. We begin to feel invincible.Â
For some romantic souls, spring is the time to find new infatuations. As they walk down Thayer Street, looking at the world with a fresh perspective, they begin to find everyone a little better looking. Inhibitions and self-imposed restrictions swiftly fade away, giving way for new attractions to form. The problem is those core fears that past wounds have caused don’t disappear — spring may mask them, but they are still there, deeply rooted. We only realize this, however, when we come face to face with a situation that brings us back to reality making us wonder if we were ever invincible.Â
We weren’t — we aren’t. Sometimes the spring semester results in an inflated view of ourselves, which can be a good thing if what you need is an ego boost, or if you had a horrible fall semester. But other times it guides us down the wrong path because it makes us think we can push past our limits. But there’s a reason why we have them. We have certain standards of comfort, which we have developed because they preserve our emotional state.Â
With time, we’ve learned that some limits are there as a “post-traumatic stress” response. They are mostly unnecessary and are just the result of past catastrophes. And those are worth destroying, forgetting and completely overcoming. The lesson to be learned is not whether we should push past or stay within. Instead, we should learn to stop generalizing our response to limits. They don’t all exist for the same reason, so thinking of them as one is ludicrous. A more holistic view allows us to better understand ourselves, who we are and what we want. So, dearest readers, revaluate the spring semester syndrome. Keep up the high spirits because they just make life so much more fun. Just remember you’re not a superhero.Â
In this issue, Anna Matejcek encourages us to explore new places to study. In an effort to make studying amenable in the midst of spring’s bliss, visiting some of the coffee shops she mentions sounds like treat. Eat some pastries while you write that paper of XIX century literature you’ve been dreading to finish, or visit the Athenaeum when you need some inspiration to craft a witty conclusion to your Creative Non-Fiction piece. Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Miriam Furst, our newest Features Editor, sheds light on the issue of date rape on campus by interviewing Daisy Whitney ’94, author of a teen novel on the subject. As Furst points out, sexual harassment is a very real issue, which reminds us of moments when knowing how to protect ourselves can come in handy. We also introduce to you this week’ campus cutie, Ashtin. Brown is lucky to have such a fashionable genius (Maison Martin Margiela trainers!) grace the main green with his presence. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk to class. You may be exposed to the perfectly curated picks from his wardrobe.Â
Now let’s go show Diddy how Brown likes to party.Â
HC Love,Â
Luisa & HarukaÂ