During the first couple of months of the transition from summer to fall, when the air starts to feel more crisp, the trees change from their bright greens to warmer oranges and yellows, and, eventually, fallen leaves crunch beneath your feet. This feeling is magical, but now foreign as an out-of-state student living in Arizona.
In a state that feels like it only has two seasons, out-of-state and in-state students have multiple perspectives on how to make the fall season feel more like fall.
Koi McLeod, a sophomore studying astrophysics from Palm Beach, Florida, said compared to his hometown, the temperature change was the most difficult thing to adjust to.
McLeod explained how he gets homesick and finds himself missing his family, and more specifically "annoying (his) sister." He mentioned how little things like that aren't realized until people are away from their families for long periods of time. However, he found that finding a group of friends helps with this loneliness.
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Jaylin Morris, a junior from Chicago studying biological sciences, shared a similar experience of missing home.
Morris said his mom would typically take his family to activities like bowling or ice skating, so he tries to incorporate that in his life now when he's starting to miss home.
Morris said he likes decorating his house, carving pumpkins or trying to find areas in Arizona that feel more like home.
On the contrary, local students shared that though they don't usually feel as homesick due to being closer to their families, they wish Arizona had more "East Coast" weather in the fall months.
Parker Blake, a sophomore studying psychology from Phoenix, expressed the significance of changing the things you can to better curate the fall spirit.
"We can't control our outside, but (we can control) our inside environment," Blake said. "I think we can trick our senses into thinking it is fall."
She illustrated that this can be anything from lighting candles to having fall-patterned nails.
Melissa Hlomatchi, a sophomore studying kinesiology from Tucson, suggested students should, "call up some friends and (have) somebody host a cute fall-themed night with some pumpkin-spiced snacks and cozy up with a Halloween movie."
Here's a guide to bring that one-of-a-kind fall feeling straight to your room or wherever you'd like, no matter where you are during this scorching Arizona fall:
Movies that Bring the Fall Season to Life
If you are looking for a way to escape the brutal autumn heat, movies are an easy way to immerse yourself in a new reality.
- Practical Magic
- Hocus Pocus
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- The Harry Potter Saga
- The Twilight Saga
The Power of Pinterest and playlists
It may seem silly, but as a college student who loves to scroll through socials, Pinterest is a great way to get your mind off your worries and responsibilities. Whether you're looking for cute ways to decorate your dorm this fall or trendy ways to change up your wardrobe for a more cozy feel, Pinterest will soon be your best friend.
Here's a curated Pinterest board for some fall inspiration on room decorations, outfits, baking recipes, and some fun activities to do with your friends during the fall season.
What's even better than scrolling through Pinterest? Pinterest with music! Here's a playlist specifically made to get you in a fall mood.
Change up your scenery
A great way to change the atmosphere within your space is by playing with the lighting within your environment, and investing in some warm-toned light bulbs, fairy lights and LED lights in different shapes to add some character to your space.
You can also change the color scheme of your room to more browns, oranges and greens to match the seasonal change.
Another way to embrace the fall feeling is to ensure the first smell that greets your nose at home is a fall smell like cinnamon, pumpkin or vanilla. For those who are not allowed to add fragrances for candles to their space, flowers can be a great alternative and a cute compliment, as well.
Fall Activities
Though it can be difficult to find places in Arizona, especially near campus, that remind you of the fall season, there are plenty of activities that you can do to bring the season to you:
- Pumpkin carving: Take a trip to the grocery store and pick the best pumpkin out of the bunch, a pumpkin carving kit — and don't forget to bring some friends!
- Baking and making tasty snacks: As someone who is not the best cook, or should even be near a kitchen, cookies or DIY snacks are a great way to start. Some DIY snacks could include caramel apples, pumpkin seeds, ants on the log or a cheese and cracker board. Whether you want to cook from scratch or buy pre-made sweets, this activity will end with a delicious reward.
- Visiting local coffee shops and cafes: Nothing screams fall more than finding a new study spot in a local coffee shop. It's a great way to get out of the house and get some much-needed social interaction.
- Have a picnic: Grab some friends and your favorite snacks and pick a spot on campus.
Edited by Andrew Dirst, Abigail Beck and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at atlynch2@asu.edu and follow @alanamentions on X.
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