As the end of the semester draws closer, I’ve started to become increasingly sentimental about Mount Holyoke and western Massachusetts in general. It’s crazy to think that in just a few short weeks, I will be graduating college; these four years have flown by. Getting sent home due to COVID-19 and missing a few semesters on campus definitely did not help time pass by any slower. My first year on campus simultaneously feels like it happened yesterday and years ago. In remembering my time here at MHC, I realized that there are a lot of specific events, traditions, and places at Mount Holyoke that I will miss dearly.
One of the best parts of being a student at Mount Holyoke is the long list of traditions that the community participates in. It’s definitely the aspect of Mount Holyoke that I will find myself missing the most in the coming years. Some of my favorite memories were made at these events with my closest friends, and I will definitely miss being able to take part in these unique and special activities. Some of my favorites include Convocation, Mountain Day, Orientation 101, Dis-Orientation, Friends and Family Weekend, and Gracious Dinners. Luckily, since Convocation occurs in the fall, I was able to enjoy three out of an expected four celebrations even with COVID-19 sending us home. Getting all decked out in your class colors, singing with the whole school, taking pictures with friends, even sitting in the burning sun and eating mediocre barbeque afterward — I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences or memories for the world. You can really feel the deep sense of school spirit MHC students have at Convocation and it feels really good to be part of such a high-spirited community.
Mountain Day is another day full of fun, friends, and community. I have always loved hiking and walking anyway, so this type of traditional activity is right up my alley, but it’s so much more special than just going up a mountain. It’s the thrill of wondering if you’ll wake up to the bells ringing, the relief of knowing that there are no classes to attend for the day, the anticipation of waiting in line at the bus stop, and the excitement of making it to the top of the mountain to adorn yourself with temporary tattoos. I’ll miss laughing with my friends up and down the path and stopping for photo-ops along the way.
Orientation 101 and Dis-Orientation are also huge Mount Holyoke events. O-101 in the fall is fun because your perspective of it changes as you transition from first year to regular underclassmen to a near-future graduate. As a first year, it can be a little overwhelming and slightly confusing, but watching the skits as a veteran MHC student is hilarious. It’s a great taste of Mount Holyoke community, culture, and humor. The room is always high-energy and everyone’s spirits are high as the incoming class learns about MHC lore, 5-college stereotypes, student-professor conduct, and more. It always feels good to sit back and laugh at yourself a little bit. Dis-O in the spring is only for first years and seniors, so once again my COVID-19 timing was pretty great because I was able to participate both times. As a freshman, you’re tempted out of your room on a random night by chants of seniors in the hall and knocks on your door. Together, the first years and seniors travel together to a meeting place where the Alma Mater and Anti-Alma Mater are sung, before marching as one group to the president’s house for sweets and drinks. It’s a great way to gather the newest and oldest classes together as a celebration of the end of the first year for some and the end of the last year for others. In a way, it feels like a passing of the torch for seniors and another form of induction into the school community for freshmen. All of the orientation events have brought me joy over the years and it’s sad that I have already participated in them for the last time.
Next up is Friends and Family Weekend! While I’ve never had any family visit during this event, I always make the most of it with my closest friends. From pumpkin painting and photo booths to miniature golf, I’ve always had the most fun making memories with my friends. It feels great to take some time off from work to spend the day outside, doing activities that I don’t participate in on a regular basis. Whether you spend the weekend celebrating with friends, family, or both, there are always plenty of entertaining activities to choose from. I’ll miss enjoying the fall weather and connecting with my inner child for a weekend.
The last Mount Holyoke specialty that I’ll really miss is Gracious Dinners. While this is a hotly debated event among MHC students, I personally think the pros of these dinners outweigh the cons. Although the lines are long and people gather outside of the dining hall up to an hour before dinner begins, the food can be pretty spectacular, the ice sculptures are impressive, and it’s a fun way to gather everyone together at the same time and place for a meal. I usually eat with most of my friends at any given meal, but Gracious Dinner really brings my whole friend group together and always feels much more special and enjoyable than a regular meal at the dining hall. The whole table ends up piled in plates and cups, and everyone laughs so hard their cheeks hurt. I’ll miss feeling festive on a random weeknight and hanging out for way too long in the dining hall with my friends making memories.
There are many more Mount Holyoke traditions, events, and activities that take place every year, and an article that included them would be very lengthy. These are my favorites, and the ones of which I have the best memories of. It will be bittersweet to see future students celebrating, but I’m glad to have been able to experience them at all.
In addition to the traditions and events that make Mount Holyoke unique, I’ll also miss a few special places around campus. One of my absolute favorite parts of MHC’s campus is the trails around upper and lower lakes. I’ve gone for runs alone and walks with friends around those paths and it takes my breath away each time. Sometimes the views are not always particularly beautiful, especially depending on the season, but just having nature trails and relatively well-maintained paved paths around bodies of water is enough to appreciate.
Although it is undoubtedly the least glamorous and comfortable lounge of all the departments, the math/stat lounge holds a very special place in my heart. I’ve worked on homework, played board games, hung out with classmates, and studied for exams in that room. I’ve experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, from laughs to cries and everything in between. I have very fond memories with some really great people in that room, and I’ll miss making memories in that space.
Finally, I’ll miss the library. I never used to be a library person and rarely set foot in the building unless it was necessary my first few years of college. Unless it was exam season, I would rather do work in my room instead. However, this past fall I ended up living with a random roommate and it just made more sense to find another space to do my work. In addition, one of my good friends got a job at the library and showed me all the best spots to cozy up and get some serious work cranked out. My personal favorites are the Octagon Room, the Stimson Room, the North Mezzanine (overlooking the Reading Room), and various study rooms throughout the library. Each room has a different vibe, with some rooms being silent zones and others allowing for quiet chatter. Which room I choose depends on who I’m with, what kinds of views I’m looking for, and if I need a table or a comfy chair to settle into. I know that wherever I end up after college will have a local library, but I doubt that it will be nearly as majestic and grand as ours. Also, I don’t believe that the vibes at a public library are the same as a college or university’s library: at school, it’s common and almost expected to spend long hours at the library and hang out in addition to getting work done, but at a local library, I wouldn’t necessarily be as comfortable really settling in. At my local library, I browse for new books, check them out, and I’m on my way. Overall, I’ve grown to really love and appreciate the library here at Mount Holyoke and I’ll miss all the ways I spend my time there.
As graduation continues to approach, I’m trying my best to balance the feeling of sadness of leaving with experiencing the good times I still have time left to have. There’s no question that things will drastically change once I graduate, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For now, all I can do is try my hardest to appreciate the experiences I’ve had and memories I’ve made on this campus with my friends and classmates. I will miss many things about Mount Holyoke and will hold all of these traditions and places close to my heart even as I move on from college.
If you would like to write for Her Campus Mount Holyoke, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please email hc.mtholyoke@hercampus.com.