Every year, right at the beginning of finals week, several different religious organisations here at UD team up and host the absolutely divine Midnight Breakfast in the basement of the Newark Methodist Church on Main Street. Since I was a freshman finishing up my fall semester, several of my friends and I have been dropping our books for an hour and walking through the cool, spring air for pancakes. Last night, as I was working my way through what was arguably my third chocolate chip pancake of the evening, it hit me that this was my fourth Midnight Breakfast.

Midnight Pancakes

Midnight Pancakes

Subsequently, this means I’ve been at UD for four semesters. Which is two years.

Which is halfway through my college career.

Upon that realisation, I’m pretty sure I could have sprayed a mouthful of milk out in what would have been the world’s most impressive spit-take.

One of the contributing factors to this shock is the paradox of time that somehow sweeps over me the minute I step onto campus. Every class seems to be plodding leisurely along, completely disregarding any inclination I might have of getting out; every day seems to be class stacked atop class; every week seems to be the academic equivalent of climbing Mount Everest… and then I look back, and I’m having Midnight Breakfast when I’m positive I was just there the night before.

I should add that Midnight Breakfast (although it may sometimes seem that this is the case) has not been the only great part of my time at UD. As my semester gallops to its grand finale and my dad’s arrival to move me out on Tuesday, my mind is running in completely the opposite direction: backward.

I’ve been so lucky to have several fantastic performances this year, through E-52 and University Singers. I’ve started writing for and with the groundbreaking, dedicated 186 South College team. I’ve had dozens of mad evenings with two equally mad roommates, who I’m going to miss more desperately than they realise. I’ve had moments I can’t even remember through the haze of the exam material I’ve crammed into my head for my upcoming exams.

Please don’t misunderstand: this is not, in any way, some almost-twenty-something not-quite-mid-life crisis from a girl who has no idea where to go with her life once she graduates. Purely through the retrospective lens, I just can’t believe two years here have already flown by so quickly.

No matter what point you’re at in your career at UD, whether you’re finishing up your freshman year or your senior year (and in either case, congratulations), what I’d love for you to take away from this post is to pause. Take a breath. Look around. And be happy you’ve gotten to spend another fantastic year here.

Best of luck with your final finals , have a fantastic summer vacation, and keep the promise of another wonderful year in the back corner of your mind.

~Claire Davanzo

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