Ever since I became a student at the University, I have loathed the idea of spending a summer in Charlottesville. To me, summer should be reserved for soaking up as much sunshine as possible, relaxing at the beach and getting around to reading all the books I have accumulated over the year — extra time at the University always seemed like the opposite of that. However, after spending time on Grounds this summer and appreciating the natural beauty of my surroundings, I am beginning to fall back in love with the University.
Before college, I thought it would be easy to love Grounds. I viewed the University as a beautiful campus filled with boundless opportunities and interesting people. Yet once I was a student, I faced a slew of assignments, high stakes exams and long days. I spent my semesters counting down the days until the next academic break. After every final exam period, I bolted out of Charlottesville, eager to escape the place I associated with exhaustion and stress.
Summer became my refuge. Every time I left Grounds in May, I kept my distance from the University, preferring to spend my days on the beach or with my family. Last summer, I was the farthest I could be from Grounds — I studied abroad in London in July, and it was the happiest I had felt in a long time. I loved my classmates, my professors and London itself, and I returned to Grounds that fall inspired to maintain the same enthusiasm for my classes and surroundings.
Except I never felt the same magic in Charlottesville. As my workload increased and my schedule became busier, I fell back into my usual rut, wishing the semester would move faster so I could leave the school year behind. As an underclassman, I had chalked up my negative feelings to the adjustment period of transitioning into college, but as a third-year student, the rationale that I was simply “new” and that things would eventually get better had passed its expiration date. I started to feel like I was simply an anomaly for not loving my life in Charlottesville.
My low spirits followed me through this past semester as I toyed with the idea of taking a summer class. I was apprehensive about staying in Charlottesville over break, but I enrolled in the second summer session, as the class would satisfy an elective credit for my English major and free up space in my fourth-year schedule. This decision, I soon realized, led to an unexpected benefit — it allowed me to reclaim my relationship with the University.
Within a few days, I discovered a University much different from the one that made me feel depleted. Grounds was quieter, the sidewalks were less crowded and I felt fewer academic stressors hanging over me. As Grounds transformed before my eyes, I made a promise to myself to change my mindset, too — I would embrace my life in Charlottesville with the same enthusiasm I felt in past summers. Just as I had soaked up London’s museums and theaters while studying abroad, I would find all the things in Charlottesville that fill me with joy and awe.
The most immediate change happened right beneath my feet. I began to treasure my walks to class, viewing them less as an inconvenience on my to-do list and more like opportunities to admire the University’s beauty. I started getting out of bed early — to beat the midday heat, but also simply to spend more time on Grounds. These morning walks might seem like a mundane act to some, but the fact that I began waking up earlier than necessary was a monumental shift to me.
I also set out to document the beauty I saw during these walks. I filled my camera roll with snapshots of Grounds — the Lawn, various buildings and even a tree that simply looked vibrant on a sunny day — and sent many of these photos to my family group chat. Snapping a picture of the Rotunda on a morning walk felt especially noteworthy — normally, I would have walked right on by, but on this June morning, I stopped to marvel at the landmark and take in the University that I am truly lucky to attend.
I once thought a single lovely day in Charlottesville was nearly impossible, let alone a joyful summer in Charlottesville. This city is a place where I have spent months wondering how everyone seems to be thriving while I simply go through the motions of a jam-packed day. But now, I am no longer rushing to leave Charlottesville — I am pausing to walk, take pictures and heal my relationship with the University, something I never thought I would do during my time as an undergraduate.
As my summer course comes to a close and my final year at the University draws nearer, I know that Grounds will not always be this peaceful. Once the semester arrives, the sidewalks will fill again, and my schedule will fill, too. But I feel a sense of peace and power knowing that I have formed a newfound love for the University. Healing and redefining my relationship with the University is a choice that I will continue to make, and now that I have done it once, I feel invigorated to do it again. It may have taken me three years to realize this, but I can now confidently sit on the Rotunda steps on a quiet summer morning and feel a genuine sense of joy. And for now, that is enough for me.
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