Once the hot and humid weather hits Tuscaloosa towards mid-May, the University parking lots start thinning and the number of students on campus reaches an all-time low. Finally, the University transitions into quiet from the usual chirpiness.
Summer at the University is a one-of-a-kind experience and having spent almost two summers here, I can say for a fact that there is so much going on behind the scenes, even during this slow time.
One of the major events that happens during the summer at the University is Bama Bound — the series of orientation events for our incoming freshmen. I have gotten to experience very different sides of what goes into Bama Bound in the last two years.
When I worked as a Summer Resident Advisor last summer, I saw the housing side of things. Housing and Residential Communities ensures that students and parents who choose to stay on campus for the few days of Bama Bound have the best possible experience. It is such a wonderful time to see incoming freshmen go through the series of emotions I went through as a freshman. And every year, we get to learn so much about how we can make this experience better for students and parents.
I currently work with Dining Services as their Information Technology and Marketing Intern and while the dining side of things never crossed my mind last summer, seeing it firsthand has made me realize that there is a lot that goes into shaping this experience.
Bama Bound is a special time for students and parents, so Bama Dining works relentlessly to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Sometimes, we have fire alarms going off right during dinner preparation times and yet they somehow manage to serve delicious and fresh meals exactly on time. Not only that, but they make sure that experiences are improved with the help of student feedback.
In an interview with Holly Grof, the assistant director of Dining Services, she mentioned that the campus population decreases drastically over the summer, but meals for Bama Bound, orientation sessions and the many camps and special events held at UA keep summer constantly changing from week to week.
I feel like we only see the quietness or the construction work, for a summer on-campus glimpse, but forget to realize just how much is actually happening. There are cheer camps that come here to fill the Coleman Coliseum with the elegance of their performances. We have research students who use the summer time to work on their papers and catch up on projects that haven’t gotten enough attention during the year because of classes, exams and other commitments.
Summer brings a different kind of productivity, and students who take summer classes are proof. While the summer months are often associated with vacations, beaches, and travel, summer classes are actually pretty popular among students. Some students even choose to take part-time jobs while studying, making the most of the time they have. Other students, including me, choose to work full-time.
Every day since the start of summer has been a reminder for me to be grateful for the small things that usually go unnoticed. I have felt immense gratitude for all the university employees who take care of the campus nature, work to make our roads better, ensure that construction works on campus happen at the most convenient times and are so enthusiastic about making the campus a better place for students when they all come back for a new academic year.
I have had the privilege of working with the wonderful Dining Services Team and my research lab team. I have had the opportunity to interact with incoming freshmen, summer camp participants, research fellows and early college students. Everyone has a different type of energy during the summer. While most of our friends are out of town for internships, jobs and vacations, the students and employees who stay behind have a one-of-a-kind experience.
In fact, while mainstream student culture might tend to lean towards leaving town for internships, staying behind offers a grounding connection to the University ecosystem. It proves that the true value of a campus is not just found in the crowded lecture halls, but actually in the quiet, shared dedication of the community that keeps it alive year round, even during the summer.
While summertime can come with its own worries for many students, it should also be remembered for the immense positivity and hope it can bring. Summer in Tuscaloosa is a radiant experience, and it has the potential to bring a lot of hope for the year to come.
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