“Winter is coming,” is an ominous, often repeated line from George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” series of books and accompanying TV shows. Even if you know nothing about the story, the implication is as clear as it always has been throughout history: winter is a time of decay, when survival becomes more difficult and the future less clear. Until spring arrives, that is.

Spring is a time associated with rebirth. It is a time when the lingering snow mounds fade and university students begin to look toward the future. For some, that future is graduation and a life free of textbooks and exams. For others, it is the more immediate satisfaction of spring break.

Whatever the students’ graduation status or plans, we here at The Slate decided to share our thoughts on what spring means to us. 

Spring means turning the heat off and opening the window to feel the cool breeze. Unfortunately, this means allergies for many people. Allergy relief medication, the often-nonstop Shippensburg rain, and the busy halfway point of the semester equal an unholy trifecta of making students perpetually tired.

Still, it is great to finally be free of 15-degree temperatures and windchill. Spring means looking forward to finally seeing the color green on campus and waking up to the sound of birds instead of the sound of ice-cold wind.

Spring means looking forward to hiking and spending more time outdoors, a much-needed break from midterm studying and hiding from the cold. To wrap up, spring is like any other season. It has its positives and negatives. But at least spring signifies that the academic year is coming to an end. Hang in there, we are almost done.

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Spring is a bastion of positivity around campus, even if it comes at the cost of more stress in the classroom. Just seeing the Adirondack chairs back out on the quad brings a smile to the face. Combine that with baseball and softball starting up, outdoor rec leagues soon returning and another hour of daylight to work with in the evening, it’s a fantastic chance to get some fresh air.

The pollen can become a major nuisance, but depending on what is going on, it is worth the pain later. Midterm season also approaches as it turns to spring, so whether that means exams, essays or group projects, there is an increased sense of urgency to start focusing on the large assignments.

Spring break can become a distraction as well, so it becomes crucial to focus on the present. After all, spring break is the reward for your hard work; make sure you truly earn that reward.

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Spring is the lead-up to the best season of the year: summer. It is when you can start busting out the crop tops, short sleeves, shorts, and all the cute clothes you could not wear when it was 10 below zero.

Walking to class, going to work or even going out to do things with friends becomes way easier with the warmer weather. The best thing to look at around campus is everyone sitting outside, enjoying the weather, and hanging out with friends. People are actually able to enjoy the campus and explore, rather than rush to class or home because it is too cold outside.

Spring break is an opportunity for students to rejuvenate and spend time in various places, away from their usual environment. By the time they get back, people usually appreciate our campus more and spend more time outside and roaming around when they get back or right before spring break. 

Midterms are also coming up, making it a stressful time for students, so the nice weather can be a break from the perpetual work during midterms.

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