by the Editorial Board
At this time next week, Fall Break will be well underway. As some of us head home for the 5-day pseudo-vacation, others take the opportunity to explore the region, and still others remain on campus to briefly recharge before the second half of the semester, it’s worthwhile to stop and consider the passage of time.
Yes, the leaves are starting to change color, the weather has begun to ooze back into central New York’s unique brand of wet chill, and Fall Fest has come and gone, but more than simply acknowledging the hallmarks of this point in the school year, is it possible to reflect on what this year has amounted to (so far)?
Some of the more noteworthy events that have characterized 2018 Hamilton could have been predicted. Women’s field hockey, for instance, came into the season nationally-ranked and have followed through on expectations, currently sporting an 8–2 record and a 14th-ranked program. Last week, the Hockeyville celebration brought two NHL teams to Clinton, an event that, while certainly historic, was announced back in April. Further, Greek life’s reckoning seems to have finally come to a head after years of speculation as to when the existing structure would face administrative action and reform. While certainly newsworthy and engaging, these topics have hardly caused the same kind of shock as, say, a Bundy Ball python.
Shocking snakes aside, who knew back in August that a recent UK Prime Minister was headed our way? Or that Mr. “No Hands” himself, Waka Flocka Flame, would be headlining the Fall Concert? Or that unlimited Diner swipes truly meant
unlimited
swipes?
Nationally, we continue to see every iteration of unpredictability play out within our government, and as the Supreme Court begins its new session this week, the country reckons with a disturbing and divisive confirmation process in the search for a 9th justice, with implications for every aspect of society.
The point is, we just don’t know what is going to happen. Some things are more foreseeable than others, but nothing is certain. As students facing mounting workloads, competing interests, and pressure to “figure things out”, it can be easy to slip into a kind of semi-conscious state wherein time is less present than it is peripheral. Days pass, work is done, weekends are enjoyed, things that are important one moment are no longer the next. The beginning of the year feels like not so long ago, but also inaccessible, different. There is now, and there is then. We move forward.
Even if time has passed quickly this year, it is safe to assume everyone is ready for a break. More than just a time to relax, though, maybe it can also be a time for reflection. Not so long ago, we were saying farewell to the Hill for the summer. Not so long ago, we celebrated the first warm days after a long winter. Not so long ago, we arrived for Orientation. This Fall Break will soon enough be the basis of a future “Not so long ago…”, a temporal checkpoint “along the way.” Reflection or not, this is inevitable. But it doesn’t mean we can’t pause to appreciate where we are now.
Predictable or not, good or bad, we can only wait and see what the rest of the year has in store. Have a great break.
