The Sky Is Falling
I remember the first time “it” happened. Freshman year, it was sometime in Mid-November if my memory serves me. There was a slight chill in the air, and Thanksgiving was right around the corner. I was going about my daily routine, walking across the Horseshoe back to my dorm room in Maxcy. I was doing nothing wrong; I did nothing to provoke any sort of “attack”. However, as I moved across those bricks, something happened that changed me forever.
Halfway across the horseshoe, I felt a knock on my head. I looked up and saw nothing but the large oak trees that dot the horseshoe landscape. Not knowing what had happened, I took a few more steps and felt another small knock on my head. This time, I saw the culprit: an acorn. Not knowing what this was at the time since I was a naïve young lad from the desert sands of Arizona where acorns are not so commonplace, I was left angry, confused, and slightly sore.
Luckily, my friend Jenna was hanging around on the grass that day, and I was able to ask her what these weird falling brown balls were and why they keep knocking me on the head. She said that they were acorns or course! Well, I had it figured out now, or so I thought. I proceeded to surmise that these acorns were falling from “acorn trees”. I kid you not, that is what I said. After her laughter had subsided, she explained that they were actually OAK trees. Alas, my first lesson in South Carolina botany was complete! I knew about acorns and was changed forever!
I tell you this humorous story from the past to allow me to describe to you one of the most beautiful times of year here at USC, and I am talking about fall! Since I am so lucky to walk across the Horseshoe everyday on my way to class, I have gotten to see the transformation as the leaves have turned and fallen off. To someone who had not experienced a “true” fall my entire life, the shades of reds, yellows, and oranges that paint the trees are a treat to see everyday.
As an out of state student, experiencing the different climate is just the very tip of the iceberg as far as experiences that I would never have been able to have had I not come here for school. I have traveled to Boston as part of my honor society, gotten to enjoy the unique culture in the South, and of course, the number of friends and people I have met is beyond what I could have dreamed before I came here. My point is that coming to USC can really open up a lot of doors for you in ways you may not even have imagined. So I encourage you to check out campus, even if you have a slight interest. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you see. Just remember when you do make it here, if that flying object hits you in the head on the horseshoe, it is only an acorn! Take care everybody!