The first week of the new semester has already passed, and it oddly feels like I never even left West Chester to begin with. I can’t seem to shake this feeling of déjà vu. Yet again, maybe it’s just the snow that the campus has been blanketed in that is fusing the fall and spring semesters in my mind.
But alas, winter break did happen, and I found it to be a much-needed opportunity for relaxation and reconnection with home life. For all of the comforting feelings that I experienced while home over break, I did have my share of upsetting days. It was mostly attributed to some self-confidence issues and past skeletons with my high school friends being brought to the surface. While it all was happening, I merely attributed my sadness to just a bought of bad days and bad luck. But the more I looked into and researched my situation (I had a similar experience last winter break while I was still in high school), I realized that a lot of people have experienced the “winter blues” just like I have. According to www.osteopathic.org, millions of Americans are affected each year by seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, depression, increased appetite, and weight gain.
As I’m typing up this list of symptoms, seeing the latter two makes me laugh a little. Not because seasonal affective disorder is funny in any shape or form, but because I know that I definitely had an increased appetite for home-cooked food once I returned to my house. And my fairly consistent devouring of comforting cuisines probably made me gain an extra pound or two at home as opposed to here at school. So it goes.
Most of my winter break was so nice that I was a little apprehensive about transitioning back to school. I guess I just got a little too used to the cushiony feeling of being home. However, the transition back to school was made smoother by the few events that West Chester had planned over the course of the first week.
Aside from Tuesday and Wednesday being excruciatingly boring due to class cancellation, the rest of the week had some exciting things to offer to students as a “welcome back.” The contemporary issues film series was brought back, much to my surprise and overt delight, to host an assembly of movies and documentaries throughout the spring semester. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the first film shown on Thursday night was “The Butler,” starring Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. The film was both emotional and humorous, and featured an ensemble cast that included Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Robin Williams, just to name a few.
The following night was the first edition of this semester’s Sykes After Dark events. This week’s event was Hogwarts After Dark, and featured Harry Potter themed foods, games, and activities. I didn’t personally attend this event, but I heard through the grapevine that there was a mechanical broomstick, which is pretty awesome.
Next week, there are even more things for everyone to do to break the winter boredom spell. As a matter of fact, the day this issue hits stands, the LGBTQA will be hosting a welcome back reception in the Sykes ballrooms at 4:30. Everyone is welcome and if that isn’t enough of an incentive, there will be free food! I can just tell that this is going to be the semester of getting out there and participating in new things. I hope you all find a new passion or path to take this semester. Till next time, my fellow Golden Rams, so it goes.
Rachel Alfiero is a first-year student majoring in communication studies. She can be reached at RA806657@wcupa.edu.