Once a year during spring quarter, my college gives us a day off and we all go to the beach in South Haven. The catch is that the date for this day off is a surprise. Students and staff alike don't know when the day will be until the night before. At the beginning of May this secret day off started to become a frequent topic of conversation. By last week people were checking the weather daily, making bets with friends or professors about which day would be chosen, and waiting for the email to come that would be our ticket to freedom.
The anticipation was unlike any other. I mean you can't really blame us, we are one of a few colleges that are still in school, and with the weather being so nice, we couldn't wait for a day off from class and a day away from campus. Where ever you went on campus you were sure to hear people discussing the impending day. Last Wednesday was a contender, but when we got to Thursday and we hadn't yet had our day at the beach, Friday and Monday became the two best options.
On Thursday night at 5:30 the bells in the chapel rang to signify the start of our day off. There was a party on the quad with pizza, snow cones, a DJ and outdoor games. People all over campus were celebrating our extra night off and the day at the beach that was to follow.
The weather on Friday honestly was not the best for a long day at the beach. It was in the 60's and windy sitting by the water, but even this could not hold us back from enjoying the day. My friends and I played frisbee on the beach, walked out on the pier to see the light house, ate ice cream and explored the shops that lined the downtown streets.
It was nice to get off of campus and recharge in such a beautiful place on Lake Michigan. The wait was well worth all the anticipation, it was worth checking my weather app 20 times a day, and it was worth all the hard work we have done this year. The day off was a reminder that we are closer to being done with classes and summer break. Two more weeks and then we'll really be free.
