As the leaves start to turn colors, it signifies the arrival of a much-awaited season: fall. Fall is the season of transition and comfort. It is between summer and winter; it is the transition from hot to cold, from sun to snow. It is also the back-to-school season, where the Concord Academy community returns to campus, settles in for the new school year, and welcomes the new incoming class. It is the most exciting time of the school year, when you are not yet burdened with academic work, you can reconnect with the people you missed over the summer, and you get to know new students, faculty, and staff members. The fall season is filled with fun activities on campus. Even when it is an ordinary school day, the sunny and refreshing weather makes it easy for the students to hang out on the quad during breaks. Fall is where everything begins, and it is exciting and new.
There are various events that are hosted on campus, such as the Block Party, Club Expo, the Boarding Council Cookout, the White-Out dance, and Family Weekend. At Concord Academy, where the sense of community is greatly valued, these fall-exclusive activities are some of the most engaging events on campus. These are opportunities for returning students to have fun with their friends and get to know new people.
Orientation is the first event to showcase CA’s warm welcome to new students. However, it is more than just an event for the incoming students; it is also a chance for returning students to show their leadership and passion. Orientation is followed by community weekends with lots of fun activities. My personal favorite is the Block Party, where there are food trucks, music, and the foam pit. Under the lively atmosphere, I naturally feel more outgoing and comfortable approaching people I'm not usually close to. Throughout the school year, these fall events are the majority of opportunities for students to meet new people and make friends.
To me, however, Club Expo signifies the real start of the school year. It is when clubs start to become active again, and it’s so fun to see all of the merch options and to learn about the missions of countless student-led clubs, like the Centipede. Later, the Boarding Council Cookout brings the boarding and day communities together, and Family Weekend is a way to merge students' personal lives with school life, thus strengthening the bond within a greater community. I appreciate the environment CA creates to provide the space for the student body to bond with, not only their peers, but also the adults connected to CA. These seemingly casual connections are what make CA a tight-knit community.
Lastly, I would like to mention my personal favorite part of fall—the sunsets. With the opening of the Centennial Arts Center, it completes the views of the sunsets along with the Chapel. When the sky turns into a burning red that stretches out to multiple colors in the sky, it makes you forget all of your troubles and want to stay in this peaceful and joyful moment with your friends.