The Cherry Blossoms

 

    

       Freshman year, I came into a time of Covid. I remember masks, socially distant classrooms, and many hoops to jump through that were so different than the 'typical' college experience. 

    I also remember my first photography class. I was so excited to pull out my camera and finally try and use it. As the weather got warmer, I remember exploring campus more. I remember coming upon the courtyard of the Humanities Building. It was so new to me then, it felt like a secret. I was so excited to climb up on the bench and snap photos with my camera for class. 

    Four years later, I came to the same cherry blossom trees. It was one of the first warm days this semester and I went to sit under them. Just like I had done freshman year, I snapped some pictures. No one else was around. It was just me, my camera, and the cherry blossoms. 

    I felt sentimental. I felt like I was coming full circle. For four years, I had been snapping pictures all over campus, off campus, of friends, of faraway places abroad. As a photographer, photos have become such an important part of my life. There was something special about coming back to the cherry blossoms. I often see them from the windows of the Humanities Building as I do my schoolwork. But sitting under them brought me right back to freshman year. 

    It made me think about all of the photos I have taken in between then and now. I know there's a saying, that we take photos of what we love most, or of things we fear losing. I sat underneath the trees for a while and opened up some old folders. I went through so many photos. Collections from freshman year, from that summer, from sophomore year and old friends I haven't talked to in a while, pictures from class projects, from birthdays, friends' birthdays, photos I don't remember taking, pictures from abroad, from academic events, from my beloved English Department, nights out with friends, pictures of my dog, and so many more. Truly felt so fortunate to be a photographer in that moment. But I felt even more fortunate to have been there in all of those moments to take those photos. 

    It was a moment I was glad to have. Even though it was a small moment, I have found that the smallest moments of senior year have been the ones I remember the most. And so, I pulled out my camera and did what I had done for four years- I took a picture.