Beware! The trees are getting undressed in public!
Winter is on the horizon, and the weather of autumn is working its magic and washing the chlorophyll that masked the beauty of the trees for a long time, revealing the splendid true colors of my surroundings. So, the summer is taking its mask down revealing what was hidden, leaving all of us standing in amazement and in awe to how much beauty God put in these creatures. All the trees, leaves, and flowers are changing colors and coming to life again, breathing what is left of it, inhaling the warm breeze near them. But are they really coming back to life or just taking their last breaths to say bye to life and welcome death in open arms with all this beauty?
The beautiful campus of the University of Rochester now changed its clothes to match what its lover had on, the colors of the spring rainbow. I have never seen such a thing! Trees in bright colors, PINK TREES! For me it was a myth until now. The squirrels and rabbits are playing and enjoying with us these precious moments and this precious time of the year. I walk around and see those little things chasing each other or chasing flying things around; it is just miraculous.
It is also the time of the year with midterm exams and with the second exam of some materials. Everybody is stressed out, studying and making up what they have missed. But with the professors holding review sessions, workshops, and study groups that are taking place in Gleason, ITS, and libraries around this beautiful campus or even under the sun rays on the grass, I think everything is going fine. All these things are tools that are available to the students here.
I was walking around between my classes the other day and I was thinking about all the colors of the leaves that are falling on the ground, admiring what I am seeing. I picked a corner under a tree and just took some time looking around, observing people and nature. Everything talked to me, the bits of air that touched my forehead, the smell of the freshness and the morning blessings, the couples that were around me holding hands and so madly in love that they were talking like that moment was their last, the squirrels jumping around and approaching me—which I believe they did because at that moment I blended with the ground. Everything whispered in my ear in a way or another. And all that made me think, “This is the first time that I took a moment of serenity during my day to look around me” and see how beautiful the University of Rochester is! Now, I think we should imagine this as a unique day in the life of a student at the U of R. No, I take what I said back, because I think that every day in this great piece of land that we call our university, our home, and our community is a unique dream.
With much love and respect
Peace,
Sarah AK Ahmed