Be a Walker (literally!)
For me, any form of movement is a stress reliever. I played basketball for most of my life, and I always appreciated practice because I knew it was two hours when my mind would focus on my breathing and the intricacies of the game, not all the worries of life. Now that I am done with basketball, I usually lift weights whenever I need to get out of my head. But as the weather starts to warm up, I don’t want to waste the breezy afternoons or cool evenings. So what do I do? I walk the Campus Loop.
After my classes and internship, I like to grab my water bottle and walk on the sidewalk that surrounds campus. Students call this sidewalk the Campus Loop. Huntington University has a gorgeous campus, and my favorite season at HU is spring. The trees start to blossom with delicate pink and white flowers, the grass gets greener, and little ducklings start to swim in Lake Sno-Tip. The Campus Loop provides me with plenty of these beautiful sights along the way, as it is a little over a mile long.
My favorite portion of the Campus Loop is after Richlyn Library and Forest Glen Park. The sidewalk swings out into a wide curve around the edge of Lake Sno-Tip, and from this open view, you can see across the lake and into the HUB. In the cool spring evenings, the string lights outside the HUB light up and cast a warm glow over the entire lake, making a magical atmosphere as the sun sets over campus.
Besides beautiful views and a chance to get some steps in, walking the Campus Loop is also a time for me to be intentional in my relationships. My sister and I often walk the Loop, and we talk about our day, the future, and everything in between. Even though we barely see each other throughout the day because of our busy schedules, I can always count on catching up with her when we walk. When I go on a walk by myself, I use the time to call my family and friends. I call my grandpa (whose last name, ironically, is Walker), every Sunday afternoon, and he can always guess that I’m either on a walk or about to go on one.
Whether you walk to exercise, sightsee, or communicate, the Campus Loop is perfect for all of those options. For more ideas about where to walk on campus, check out HU’s Campus Map. Hopefully I’ll see you out on my next walk!
