OPINION: The state of Maine is incredibly lucky to hold the title of “Vacationland.” Even if the term is no longer present on our license plates, anyone who has ever been here can see very quickly that it is a well-deserved nickname. Being most famous for the summertime, a drive from Acadia to Portland (albeit long) will show any doubting out-of-stater just how beautiful Maine can be. On average, most residents will tell you that Maine during the summertime is an unbeatable experience. However, I would argue that at the University of Maine, an exception must be made for fall.
UMaine peaks in the fall for a number of reasons. One of the easiest physical characteristics to spot is the changing foliage. As the weather cools from sandal season to sweater weather, the surrounding trees transition from uniform green to vibrant hues of orange and red, turning UMaine into something out of a Van Gogh painting. At the very least, it makes the walk to class a little less dull and I think more people should come to appreciate that.
Another point of interest is the campus atmosphere. Maine Day and the end of the year certainly have their own atmosphere, geared towards an “I can’t wait to leave campus” mentality, which is appreciated in its own right. Yet, I find the first two months back are the best for campus culture and overall student energy.
Club fairs, new classes, familiar faces, pledge week, hockey season and Halloween bring a certain kind of electricity to both the student body and the campus as a whole, which is unreplicable in any other season. Everyone is lively and looking for the next party, which brings a kind of optimism that UMaine benefits from. With workloads still being light and weather permitting, the average UMaine student during the fall may find themselves with a newfound lust for life.
It is the combined energy of the student body and the backdrop of a colorful and vibrant campus that culminates into the quintessential college experience — a kind of whimsical bliss only found in emerging friend groups and long walks back from hosting houses that creates the ultimate nostalgia trip. The sense that we are in the prime of our youths, boozed up (if over 21) and ready for whatever adulthood may throw at us.
Countless movies and songs have been written about this exact point in time, yet many students opt to ignore this rare opportunity, whether consciously or subconsciously, in exchange for the stressors of internships and reliving a high school experience built on lost memories and a dumbfounded innocence.
Wake up! Our time for preteen drama has passed and our time for meandering adulthood will come soon enough. In that tension lies a beautiful lull built on loud dance floors and the bridge between new experiences and essential stupidity. We are here to learn about ourselves and to make the mistakes that will define our latter years — this beautiful period of fall at the University of Maine is exactly what we need to recognize in the moment and make the most of while we can.
