School's Out

In elementary school the most exciting day of school was the last day. I remember in 5th grade, on the very last day of my elementary school career we all walked outside Eastover Elementary School for the very last time and got on the bus. That bus ride was the most exciting ride of the year. The moment you step off that bus you were officially out of school for the summer. By that point it was the middle of June and summer couldn't start any sooner. It always seemed like a fitting way to end a school year. In junior high, it was the last walk home from East Hills Middle School. In high school it was always the last ride home. In college though there really isn't that defining trip back home to signify the end of the school year.

That's why every year, after my last final I walk home from North Campus. The tradition first started after my Engineering 101 final exam freshmen year. We walked back through the Arb smoking cigars and drinking 40's of malt liquor.


I remember that exam ended at 10am and after playing The Price Is Right drinking game I was very drunk by the time we went down to lunch. I tried to order 10,000 chicken fa-jitas. I then proceeded to somehow spill ranch dressing all over the outside of the sneeze guard. It's memories like those that start traditions.

This year, my last final is on central which would make the walk a lot less significant, so when I finished my take home final on North Campus I decided that I could make the walk the day before the final in my pass/fail class. It was a great day, and as I walked down Fuller I decided to turn down Cedar Bend and walk up the trail that leads from the dead end at the end of the street. I walked around the Huron River and back to Fuller. It's a really great hiking trail, I wished I hadn't worn flip flops. It was an awesome way to get home, and it puts perspective on the past year. I really feel that I balanced my Chi. I guess I only get to walk home from North Campus one more time.