The Victorian Language of Flowers was used for decades to relay feelings that people had a hard time expressing or were too embarrassed to share. The flower we will be looking at today is a Marigold. The flower is pompom shaped, typically ranging in color from red, orange, yellow, or a blend of them all. They are edible and have been used to aid respiratory diseases and digestive problems. In cultural applications, they are used in Day of the Dead celebrations to guide lost loved ones to their altars, which are filled with treats and pictures. In the Victorian Language of Flowers, Marigolds symbolize a host of things, one being resilience.
Midterm season kills. I had always heard and knew that it was going to be difficult, as exams weigh heavily on your mind and pop up at every given corner. I did not, however, expect it to be this bad. Across campus, you can tell when midterm season rolls around: a lot less people enjoying themselves outside, a lot less available spots in the library, and an overall disappearance in the student body.
We’re still here, I know we are, but UCC seems to lack its constant chatter, Schafer Lawn lacks a spikeball game, and everyone seems tired. Midterm season brings a lot of trials to the student body. Slowly but surely, you see a disheartened air fall on the most chipper of us all. I slowly watched as people who would rather be caught dead than studying alone on a Friday night hole themselves up in their room for an entire weekend as they try to complete all their work.
The gloomy feeling is only softened by the impending joy of Halloween. It acts as a marker for a “we made it” moment, where it feels like you can finally breathe fresh air again. It’s a point where you can reflect and realize that you made it through.
As midterms are slowly winding down, I’ve started seeing people more. I no longer have to fight to find a seat at the library, and I see people outside. Whether it be a few people just going out to play lacrosse or a group of friends testing out a minibike, life is coming back to campus.
The resilience of Stevens students is apparent in their hardworking nature. We are committed to our studies and are willing to do whatever it takes to get the grade we want. If you need an example of that, simply look at our class schedules and the insane amount of credits per semester. We work hard, and sometimes it can make us lose ourselves.
To keep us going, we have to make a path through ourselves. Much like a trail of marigolds on Dia De Los Muertos, we have these joyous moments meant to guide us back to ourselves outside of the student. Whether it be painting pumpkins with some friends at Fall Fest, treating yourself to some good food, or a movie night with those closest to you, we have these moments that keep us going and propel us through the hard times. So, whatever your Halloweekend plans are, make sure you make some time for yourself and remember to have fun.
