Nature Journal- My Walk to Campus

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Last year, I lived off campus for the first time. I lived in a house that was only two streets away from campus and I could see the TCU-bricked buildings if I stepped out into my street. I lived so close that it seemed like a shame to not walk to class every single day. This year however, I moved to a house that is about a mile from campus. No longer can I see the TCU buildings. No longer do I get to walk through the beautiful campus to go to class. Now, I drive myself to class and park in a lot right next to my building. I walk straight in to my class and then I drive home. Over the last month, I discovered how much I missed my daily walk on campus. So, I decided that I would walk to campus more often, especially now that the weather is slightly cooler. I began my walk down the street and I instantly noticed more than I ever have while driving. There are no sidewalks on this portion of the street, so I was forced to walk right next to the curb. My neighbor’s dog began barking, and before this, I didn’t even realize they had a dog. Pecan trees line the streets and provide a comforting shade on either side. Fallen pecans lie half opened in the grass, possibly explored by a hungry squirrel or varmint. I noticed how desperately the streets need to be repaved. They are uneven and have quite a few potholes. When driving, I subconsciously navigate them to find the smoothest part of the road. Walking allowed me to see the severity. Cars drive past, slowing down as they pass me. The hustle and bustle of Berry street is much more prominent while walking. You can actually hear the cars and the people, rather than just drowning out the noise. It’s amazing how much more you can observe when you take a second to slow down and just look around. Although my walk to campus wasn’t the same as it used to be, I still enjoyed it. Instead of seeing large oak trees, campus buildings, and other walking students, I was now walking past large pecan trees, old homes, and driving cars.

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