Scenic spots on campus essential to student life

As the seasons change and the leaves begin to fall, it is very easy to take note of the outdoors environment that surrounds us. However, with construction all around campus and students distracted with midterm exams and papers, it is also very easy not to appreciate some of the more scenic spots on campus. With fast paced lives, students have a tendency to get bogged down in their classes, homework and the social scene without making time in their schedule to reflect on what is going on around them. In this ever-changing world, it is essential to set aside some quiet time to reflect about yourself, your work and events going on in the world. Several great quiet and scenic spots exist on campus where students can go and spend some time alone, do some homework while sitting in the sun or simply take the time to enjoy the great weather. On a campus currently filled with construction, finding a quiet green spot is becoming an increasingly difficult challenge. However, a few great spots exist. Students have the chance to sit on the lawn or benches around Mirror Lake near Montieth and Arjona. Mirror Lake provides a great view of campus with an opportunity to watch, and maybe even feed, the geese. In addition, on the other side of campus, Swan Lake provides a slightly less scenic view, but still it is a quaint and quiet setting for students. Another great experience is a trip out to Horsebarn Hill. This is a great opportunity every student should participate in before graduating. Especially at night, Horsebarn Hill is deserted and quiet. The only sense that campus is nearby is the faint sounds of cars speeding down Route 195 and the illuminations of bright campus lights. Horsebarn Hill is a very popular place in the winter when students flock to the hill to go sledding. Students should be encouraged to go out to the hill before the fall is over, and take some time to enjoy the scenery. It is a quiet place, where one can escape the headaches of a busy campus life. If some quiet time is needed to think and reflect, a nice leisurely walk up the hill can certainly calm the nerves. It is a great place to simply look up at the skies or count the stars. A long quiet walk or a few minutes of silence while staring at the stars are extremely rewarding, yet under-appreciated activities. Behind Horsebarn Hill are a series of hiking trails, which lead to several open fields and a river. One afternoon this fall, take a few hours of your time, grab a friend or two and just start hiking. So many times, it is easy to criticize the campus for not having anything fun to do in the area. It is essential to realize that Storrs is not located in a city. While this campus may not have the benefits of a booming urban nightlife, Storrs does have the distinct benefits of a fairly rural community, where students can enjoy the outdoors by going for a hike or taking a swim in a local river. Some other great on-campus sites also exist, such as the area in front of the Benton Museum of Art. An especially quiet location, as it is away from most roads, this area has many trees that provide a shady area with benches among the plants and flowers. Many people probably agree this is one of the most beautiful places on campus. Lastly, one hidden treasure on campus exists, despite its central location. Tucked away behind Gulley Hall is a small flower garden with some stones and a few benches. It is a great spot to stop and smell the roses while reading a book for class. If you're lucky, maybe you can even watch one of UConn's club sports teams scrimmaging on the lawn down the hill. The point of all of this is that the season of good weather and sunny days are coming to a close. Soon, the trees will be barren and winter will be here. Take advantage of this weather and the beauty of the fall foliage while it is here. Sometimes it is easy to take a New England fall for granted, since most campus residents are from the area. Whether we realize it or not, UConn lies at the heart of what is regarded to be some of the most beautiful country where one can watch the leaves change. Instead of trekking over to the library to read and do homework, stop at one of these outdoor locations. Grab a nice grassy spot, get comfortable and take the time to finish your work outside in a great environment. If you're not one to work outside, take a few minutes on your way to class to stop and enjoy the view and the sounds. If you're lucky like me, and your best friends have taken ornithology classes at UConn, invite them out for a walk to listen and look for birds. Time is running out to enjoy the outdoors, as the weather is getting colder day by day. With construction taking place around campus, and the university looking for spaces to expand, one would hope some quiet scenic spots would be preserved. Such places on campus are essential for students to be able to escape the busy, and sometimes depressing, world around them. Hours spent in the quiet room of the library or hours spent in the quiet dorm cannot match a few minutes spent in a quiet scenic spot outdoors. So many times students are stressed out from class or burdened by deadlines. If this is the case, make some time for yourself, your friends and a few hours outdoors. Storrs may not be the most exciting place in the world, but it certainly does have its hidden treasures.