The most magical time of the year!

The lighting of the trees on College Walk is a time-honored tradition and one that many Barnumbians greatly look forward to. I want to believe in magical winter moments as much as the next gal, so this Thursday I decided to bundle up and venture forth to my very first tree lighting. 

Our story begins on the fourth floor of Diana, at approximately 5:30 pm. I am hard at work cranking out my last charcoal drawings of the semester when I notice that time has slipped away. I was supposed to meet my friends to walk over ten minutes ago. I frantically text them, but they have already left. This means I will need to brave the cold and crowds by myself. I guess this is what I get for being such an artistic prodigy. 

After a quick pizza fuel up I step outside. My first thought, take me home. A flury of cold whips across my thin layers of clothing and leaves me stunned. Why am I only wearing a hoodie and jeans in 20-degree weather you ask? Blame my parents for raising me in the Bay Area. (Just kidding mom and dad!) After getting over my initial shock I begin to violently speed walk across campus. 

When I arrive at the Columbia gates I am met with hordes and hordes of students. After meandering through the crowds I eventually spot my friends waiting in an extraordinarily long line for hot chocolate. We catch up, do a few jumping jacks to preserve warmth, and wait patiently for a hot beverage to reach our eager hands.

It is now 6:10 and the end of the line is sight. The tree lighting is scheduled for 6:15 but it’s notoriously never on time. It is then announced that they are out of hot chocolate. My friend and I look at each other in disbelief. We reach the front of the line and begrudgingly settle for giant cups of hot water. Have I mentioned it’s cold? The time is 6:12 and the scramble to find a place to watch has begun. It is times like these when I am reminded that we go to a school of thousands and thousands of people. I manage to perch myself up on a ramp where I can see approximately five trees.

The clock strikes 6:15. The count begins. And stops. And begins again. And at exactly 6:16, the lights turn on.

Well. You guys were all right. It’s pretty freaking magical.

After saying goodbye to my friends, I stroll around campus to get a better view of the lights. Walking up Low steps I look down at all the people laughing and posing for pictures and a teeny tiny tear comes to my eye. Don’t blame me dear Bwog readers, I’m sure it’s just the wind.

Photos via Bwog staff