By the time this article is published, three weeks would have gone by since the first day of our freshman year. I bet you may have had some classes that immediately jumped into the curriculum on the first day of school after a quick five-minute introduction to the course. It is important to be able to not get caught up in the intensive wave of our college career, which is why taking well-deserved breaks is a must.
Let us explore relaxing activities to do outside of campus because they will help you from getting burned out from your first-year semester courses. One of my go-tos are parks. Frank Sinatra Park, which is just South of the Griffith Building along Frank Sinatra Drive, is one of my favorites. This park offers amazing scenic views and is a great spot for taking a stroll in the fresh breeze as autumn strolls closer. Not only is this park amazing for a stroll, but it allows for cycling, jogging, and sports for everyone. Ever wanted to cycle by the Hudson River on a fresh morning? Well, you can easily take one of your bicycles or rent a Citi Bike and ride along Sinatra Drive in the bike lane. Make sure to stop by one of the piers, such as Pier C, because despite being a small island, it has so much to offer, and it is my personal favorite. Not only is there a fun playground and a trail to jog along, but there are also many benches to just sit and look at the West Side of New York. This park also offers a fun telescope that you can use to look over at New York City and get a better view of the city. It is possible to even see Little Island in detail as it sits across the Hudson in New York. Sinatra Park is most definitely a park that you want to explore soon with friends or by yourself.
Now, just as Hoboken offers great places to take mental breaks, Stevens does it two times better. Are you looking for time to have fun and play games, especially after having a rough week of exams? Luckily, both the bowling alley located in Howe Center, and the Game Room in the UCC are both one hop, skip, and a jump away. The bowling alley offers six lanes from which to play. Go in groups of friends or even by yourself, and you will be able to borrow bowling shoes and practice your strikes with different styles. The bowling alley is in the basement of the Howe Center, which can be accessed via the elevators in the lobby or the adjacent stairs. If you are feeling more of the video game type of afternoon, you can visit the UCC and walk to the Game Room, which is on the lower level. The Game Room comes equipped with its own Xbox and some games as well. However, feel free to bring any other console and hook them up to one of the three displays available. The Game Room also offers a foosball table and a pool table alongside bean bags in the center for comfortable gaming or relaxing, and all of this is offered within campus. Can you believe that!?
So, I hope that you do take some time to give yourself some mental breaks as the year progresses. Make sure to breathe in, take a pause, breathe out, and go out for a walk alongside Frank Sinatra Drive or book a visit to the Game Room.
