If you asked me what I was scared of on a normal day, I would say that I have a terrible fear of falling. If you asked me what I’m scared of while I’m holding onto a rope swing and soaring over a lake, however, I would say that I love that feeling of weightlessness that courses through me as I plunge into the cold water.
This summer, I’ve been doing a lot of falling — from rope swings, ledges or simply from my foot catching on a mossy rock. Naturally, I’ve also been doing a lot of swimming. For too many days to count, I’ve spent my afternoons floating lazily in any body of water I can find — lake, river, swimming hole — chasing the feeling of freedom that comes when the sun is high, the water’s cold and there’s nowhere else I have to be.
Luckily, this summer has been full of those moments of freedom. When my friend sends me a simple, one-word text, “Swim?” I immediately grab my swimsuit and pack my tote bag. Instead of spending another hour doom-scrolling through TikTok or failing in an attempt to focus on my readings for class, I instead set off with her on a twenty-minute car ride to a new swimming spot. I wade into the cool, clear water, picking up smooth rocks and capturing pictures of the scenery with my digital camera. I feel like a different version of myself — and somehow more like me than ever.
I’m reminded of the summers I spent as a kid, at home in Tennessee, full of boat days on Old Hickory Lake and hikes down to Cummins Falls. My time spent swimming this summer has transported me back to who I was 10 years ago — spontaneous and free. During a regular term, it’s hard for me to find that person. I feel bogged down by responsibilities.
I understand why people idealize sophomore summer. It’s the same reason I romanticize my afternoon swims. In a time of our lives when things are getting increasingly complicated by study abroads, internships and post-graduation plans, there is something comforting about a season that asks so little of us. This feels like one of the last times we’re allowed to be a little reckless, a little aimless — the way we used to be.
This week in Mirror, we’re exploring what it means to let summer unfold before us — whether it be in a lab, on the mat or in the kitchen baking with friends. One writer explores alternatives to Sophomore Summer, from research to work. A second reflects on her and her classmates’ mental and physical journeys in ASCL 61.10: Japanese Martial Arts. Finally, an editor for The Dartmouth shares her mom’s recipe for a nostalgic Indian dessert.
Happy Week 6, Mirror! I hope you’ve felt a little less unburdened this summer. Here’s to fresh water, warm days and the kind of freedom that makes us feel like ourselves again.
