Summertime ... and the livin's easy. OK, not quite yet, but the sun is shining and this valley is finally starting to live up to its name ... happy. The transformation from incessant rain to warmth and sunshine affects us physically, emotionally and socially.
Maybe an overwhelming percentage of students here are afflicted with seasonal affect disorder (SAD). Or, perhaps we've all just been lacking some good old Vitamin D, which our friend Mr. Golden Sun is now willing to provide for us. Whatever it is, the sun does wonders in lifting the spirit and generating a positive outlook. And when you feel good, you look good and are more willing to meet new people, open up and make a connection.
Though there are only a few weeks left, Penn State is starting to look like it does in our picture-perfect admission books -- the HUB lawn becomes flooded with bikinis, biceps and frisbees. The bars, along with frats, start moving the party outside during this time of year, and it is a great feeling to hang out with the sky as your ceiling.
Instead of wasting these glorious days in class or cooped up inside, students are crowding the fields for pickup games, walking around town and no longer waiting for nightfall to party like woah. All of a sudden, barbeques, luaus and dollar drafts are popping up everywhere.
We get so excited that this tundra of a town has finally thawed out that we embrace every opportunity to get outside, spend time with our friends and make new ones. With this eagerness to meet new people comes more opportunities to find yourself a little spring fling. Whether it's a prospective dating partner or simply a person with whom to share a "night of fun," it's easier while under the spell of warm rays and cool breezes.
Perhaps the most integral part of this spring fever equation has to do with the fact that during this time of year, attraction is boosted like a 2-year-old in a high chair. Besides the fact that everyone has a nice golden glow, good style shifts from what you are wearing to what you aren't. People start shedding their hoodies and opt for more "breatheable" items.
It all starts when the weather finally permits us to break out our open toed shoes. From there, everything becomes more fitted; skirts shrink and sleeves become a hassle. Skin-showing outfits are a sure sign that spring, among other things, has sprung.
Mother Nature is telling us that the time is here. The sun has people smiling all over town, drinking on Tuesday afternoons and swarming in packs of flippy skirts. Everywhere you turn, there is a new opportunity to meet someone new, so take advantage of that. Get outside, use the weather to your advantage and have some fun in the sun.
