Anna Stemplewicz

Professor Hanna Zubarava

ENG 160-24

10/18/21

Midterm: Foundations of College Writing

 

Dear Mom,

It’s currently the middle of the semester. Assignments are piling up and it’s getting colder. I’m a bit stressed out about life and school right now. Somewhere I like to go when I’m feeling overwhelmed is on a bench in the center of Parker Quad (the quad where my dorm is located), which I found out was named after Alton B. Parker, who was the democratic nominee for president in 1904. He went against Theodore Roosevelt (and lost of course). He was a judge in Ulster county and was a board member of New Paltz Normal School (whatever that means). I thought it was interesting that he was a part of the New Paltz community though! I found this out on the SUNY New Paltz About Me page. Anyways, I’m always cooped up in my room, where it’s dark and either too hot or too cold, so feeling the crisp air helps shoot energy back into my body. I usually go there to read, but the times when I look up from my book I get to see the beauty of campus. The sight of red, orange, and yellow leaves take over my vision; the fallen leaves are sprinkled all over the grass. Sometimes the midday sun shines on me and it fills my body with warmth. When I close my eyes and take deep breaths, I am filled with the smell of wood and fresh grass as the brisk air inflates my lungs. From the bench I sit on, I can see the mountain that’s not too far from campus. It’s a majestic sight to see: the full trees of red and orange. I think you would love it here. You have always been a fan of nature and being outdoors. The quad makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a park because of all the trees and picnic tables. It’s not the same as Central Park, but I still think you would enjoy it. Due to the park-like features Parker Quad has, it attracts a good amount of students. When I sit there, I see people sitting on blankets talking to their friends, I see people playing their instruments in the grass, I even saw a group of girls carving pumpkins together! Maybe we can sit on the grass once you come up with Dad and Max and Luke. According to the SUNY New Paltz website, Parker Quad tends to hold many of the college’s events (like Mind, Body, and Spirit Day). That would be cool to attend in the future. Although I use the bench to get some space, it’s definitely not lonely. By seeing these students hanging out I get to see that I’m not alone, and that in the midst of all my schoolwork, I can have my own special place to escape. Something that I think you would enjoy about this spot is that a good amount of people walk their dogs here. It makes my day seeing all kinds of dogs run excitedly through the grass. Once I saw a year old Husky zooming around! You literally would’ve died of cuteness. Okay, I have to go to class but I love you and miss you. I hope you visit sometime and we can get Starbucks and sit on the bench together and take in the fall scenery and weather. 

 

Love, 

Anna 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

“About New Paltz.” SUNY New Paltz | About New Paltz | What’s in a Building Name?, 

https://www.newpaltz.edu/about/buildings/. Accessed 17 October 2021.

Bruso, Andrew, and Andrew Bruso. “April 15: A Mind, Body, Spirit Day Dedicated to       Movement and Celebration.” SUNY New Paltz News, 12 Apr. 2021,    https://sites.newpaltz.edu/news/2021/04/april-15-a-mind-body-spirit-day-dedicated-to-movement-and-celebration/. Accessed 17 October 2021.