Studying outside in spring even when it’s still 45°F.
STUDYING OUTSIDE IN SPRING EVEN WHEN IT’S STILL 45°F.
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There’s a specific kind of defiance, isn’t there? That first glimpse of weak spring sun after months of biting winter winds. You’d bundle up – a thick sweater under your jacket, maybe even a scarf, because it was still undeniably chilly, hovering around 45°F. Yet, there you were. We all were. Dragging textbooks, laptops, and a slightly delusional optimism to that one patch of grass, that semi-sheltered bench, or even just a spot near a window that felt ‘outside.’
It wasn't always comfortable. Fingers would go numb typing notes, the wind would snatch pages, and a shiver would run through you every time a cloud passed over. But it was a tradition we clung to. A collective act of meteorological rebellion. It was saying, ‘Winter, you don’t own us anymore.’ It was the first breath of freedom, the promise of warmer days, and an unspoken bond forged in the shared absurdity of it all.
This wasn’t just about getting work done. It was about reclaiming space, about the sheer joy of feeling even a whisper of warmth on your face. It was a loved tradition because it marked a turning point, a symbol of perseverance, and a reminder that even the coldest academic winters eventually yield to spring. For current students, keep embracing that hopeful chill. For alumni, a smile of recognition, perhaps?