By Reagan Hunter | Reporter
In Texas, where summer temperatures can linger well into September, students have their own ways of deciding when the fall season officially begins.
For some Baylor students, fall begins when the weather cools down. For others, it starts with a pumpkin spice latte, Halloween decorations or the first night spent watching a favorite fall movie.
San Antonio senior Miranda Sanchez said fall begins around the middle of September, when seasonal drinks and decorations start appearing.
“I grew up in Texas, so the season never really changed,” Sanchez said. “But mid-September when pumpkin spice and halloween decorations start coming out is when I think fall starts for me.”
For Medical Lake, Washington, senior Charlie Rajewski, the arrival of fall depends less on the calendar and more on what is available at local coffee shops.
“Fall officially begins for me when the local coffee shops release their fall flavors,” Rajewski said.
Every year, Rajewski looks forward to getting her first pumpkin spice latte from Be Kind or Magnolia Press. The return of seasonal drinks means fall decorations, cozy outfits and that all of her favorite things about the season are right around the corner.
Although Texas weather does not always cooperate, pumpkin spice drinks and Halloween decorations offer students a way to welcome the season without waiting for cooler temperatures.
For Sanchez, fall is also an opportunity to revisit some childhood favorites. She enjoys watching cozy Disney movies before moving on to scary movies later in the season.
She also enjoys seeing the fall outfits people put together, which she said are unique and really make her fall in love with the season.
Rajewski shares that appreciation for the little things fall brings. Her favorite part of the season is the way it encourages people to relax and spend time together. From pumpkin carving to spooky movie nights with friends, Rajewski enjoys how the season encourages people to appreciate the little things in life.
“My favorite thing about fall is the normalization of being cozy and slowing down,” Rajewski said.
Fall traditions look different for everyone. Sanchez said she does not have specific traditions but enjoys revisiting the childhood movies she remembers growing up with, along with Halloween episodes of her favorite shows.
Rajewski also looks forward to seasonal activities with friends. Her traditions include getting her first fall drink of the year, attending football games, having fall-themed nights with friends and going to Baylor’s All University Thanksgiving.
Her ideal fall day starts with waking up in Halloween pajamas and putting together a cozy outfit with a cute jacket. After grabbing her favorite fall drink, she would spend the afternoon at a pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins with friends and finish the night watching “Harry Potter” with fun snacks.
Sanchez’s ideal fall day is a little quieter.
“Cold, with a cup of hot coffee, lots of blankets and a good movie slash show, crocheting indoors,” Sanchez said.
For Sanchez, crocheting becomes especially important as the holidays approach. She said she notices herself making more blankets and focusing on Christmas gifts as she realizes how quickly the year is passing.
This semester, her hobby also connects to philanthropy through Project Linus. Students are crocheting granny squares that will be sewn together into blankets to donate to children who have been neglected.
“With it being fall, I am realizing I need to start sewing to ensure the blankets are ready by Christmas,” Sanchez said.
While the approaching holidays can make the season feel busy, fall also brings back memories that make it special.
For Rajewski, many of those memories center on her family. As the oldest of five children, she said her mother always worked hard to make the holidays feel magical. One of her favorite childhood memories was waking up to discover the entire house decorated for fall and Halloween.
“Even now, whenever I see houses all dressed up for fall, it reminds me of those memories and the magic my mom created for us,” Rajewski said.
