Before Day One of Exams
Energy pulses through the dining hall as I weave my way through a crowd of fellow students towards the food. My friends follow behind in the trail I make. Normally at this time of night, D-Hall would be closed. But not tonight, or any other night this week. In order to help students take a break from studying, Longwood has a long-standing tradition of the late-night breakfast. It's as though a magical bubble has been cast around the building, and stress may not enter through that barrier. My friends and I have come to join at least half of the student body in the partaking of breakfast foods and a much-needed dose of fun. As we move through the room the music blares. I recognize Bon Jovi's "Livin On A Prayer" and can't help but grin. My friend Ben and I scream out the chorus at the top of our lungs, as do many of the other students in the hall. Over the next hour we munch, dance, and chat over the beat of the music. For just that small amount of time, I can forget about all of the reviewing I still have to do, the papers I need to write, and my loneliness. I am part of a community. And we'll kick the asses of our finals together.